NATO's high-level defense meeting

on Tuesday ended with no assurances to Ukraine over fighting jets, as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he didn't have any announcement on aircraft to make.

^{via BBC}

• Meanwhile: NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg said they needed to "ramp up production" of ammunition to Kyiv, adding the current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than their current rate of production.
• On the ground: Ukraine closed the city of Bakhmut to civilians, including humanitarian workers and journalists, due to an increased risk of street fighting in the town that authorities say now is "too dangerous" for the population.