Top U.S. and European defense officials spent much of this week privately discussing possible military options in Ukraine that would bolster the Eastern European country’s protections against Russia.

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO defense chiefs were due to hold a virtual meeting Wednesday, a senior alliance official said, as Western countries pushing for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine devise possible future security guarantees for Kyiv that could help forge a peace agreement.

Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the chair of NATO’s Military Committee, said that 32 defense chiefs from across the alliance held a video conference amid a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the fighting.

Western defense companies are increasingly establishing new presences in Ukraine and working directly with Ukrainian companies.

Zelenskyy meeting at the White House. President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House on M

NATO military leaders are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine and the way forward, a U.S. official and NATO official told Reuters on Tuesday.