Ukraine-Russia war latest: Nato summit to begin as Zelensky hits out at Modi for hugging Putin during visit

An historic Nato summit is set to begin in Washington in the shadow of a “brutal” Russian attack on Ukrainian cities that killed and injured dozens.

The summit, which will mark the 75th anniversary of the Western alliance, is set to begin in Washington DC on Tuesday, where leaders will discuss the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and support for Kyiv.

Last week, it was revealed Nato allies had agreed to fund military aid for Ukraine with 40 billion euros ($43 billion) over the next year.

It comes as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a “huge disappointment” to see Indian prime minister Narendra Modi embrace Vladimir Putin.

“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” Mr Zelensky said.

It comes as US president Joe Biden slammed Russian “brutality” after dozens of missiles fired by Russia struck a number of cities across the country, killing at least 43 people and wounding more than 190.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver an address at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington as he looks to drum up more support for the war against Russia’s invasion during this week’s Nato summit.

“President Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia. He knew that free countries must stand together with confidence whenever tyranny is on the move,” Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, said.

Nato is not expected to invite Ukraine to become a member at this year’s 9 July — 11 July gathering. Many Nato countries want to state that Ukraine’s path to membership is “irreversible” but alliance members are still wrangling over the summit declaration.