German, French and Polish leaders make joint show of unity over Ukraine

Military powers agree to step up purchase of ammunition for Kyiv in effort to dampen mutual tensions over Russia stance

In an ostentatious show of unity designed to ease the tensions between France and Germany over the threat posed by a resurgent Russia, leaders of Europe's three leading military powers agreed to step up the worldwide purchase of ammunition for Ukraine and improve their offer of long-range artillery.

The hastily arranged meeting in Berlin between France, Germany and Poland did little to disguise the fact that Paris and Berlin now hold different perspectives on the twin spectres of Russian military advances in Ukraine and the US Congress's refusal to approve substantial further military aid for Kyiv.