US defence chief says allies must move ‘at speed of war’ to help Ukraine

A destroyed tank and a damaged apartment building from heavy fighting are seen in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Mariupol (AP)

US defence chief Lloyd Austin has urged Ukraine’s allies to “move at the speed of war” to get more weapons to Kyiv as Russian forces continued to bombard the country’s eastern and southern areas.

There are fears that the fighting could spill over Ukraine’s borders.