LIVE UPDATES: Top Biden Adviser on Russia Departing White House National Security Council - Reports

President Joe Biden's top adviser on issues related to Russia, Eric Green, is departing from his role on the White House National Security Council (NSC), Bloomberg reported, citing national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Green is leaving his role as special assistant to the president and NSC senior director for Russia and Central Asia to retire after three decades in the foreign service, the report said on Wednesday.

Green has been absolutely central to the Biden administration's efforts in leading the charge to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable and his insights and actions have proven pivotal time and again, the report quoted Sullivan as saying in the statement.

Green coordinated US policy on Russia and Central Asia with the NSC leadership and other entities across the government and played a central role in crafting the Biden administration's response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, the report said.

His departure was delayed once at the request of the White House, the report added.

Germany will provide military support to Ukraine as long as necessary, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris.

"We support Ukraine, we have provided financial, humanitarian and military support to it, with the help of heavy artillery, air defense and, recently, supply of tanks. We will keep doing this as long as it takes," Scholz said during a joint statement for the press, broadcast on the Élysée Palace's Twitter page.

In turn, Zelensky asked Macron and Scholz to provide Ukraine with aircraft and heavy weaponry as soon as possible.

The leaders will continue the talks during a closed-door dinner. The meeting at the Elysee Palace is held ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also announced on Wednesday that the UK will expand its military training mission to cover fighter jet pilots.

"Secretary Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Milley are scheduled to travel to Brussels next week to host the ninth session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group" Ryder said during a press briefing. "In addition, Secretary Austin will attend the NATO defense ministerial at NATO headquarters also next week."

"Our objective remains to ensure a Ukrainian victory in this conflict ... that's why we have accelerated and increased our support militarily for Ukraine this year," he said, adding that "we will continue to support Ukraine to ensure decisive military victory on the battlefield this year."

Kiev has long been asking the US and other NATO allies for F-16 fighter jets to bolster its forces amid Russia's special military operation. Politico reported in January, citing sources, that a group of US military officials was quietly lobbying for the delivery of F-16s to Kiev and that it was gathering momentum in the US Defense Department amid Ukraine's preparations for a planned offensive this spring.

In total, the country has committed $30 billion in security assistance to Kiev since the beginning of the Biden Administration

The EU leaders will also discuss the issue of responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine and will sum up the assistance provided to Ukraine, he added.

"The large scale influx of weapons into any armed conflict amplifies concerns regarding the escalation of the conflict and risks of diversion," Nakamitsu said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has called for Russia to pay for the damage done to Ukraine through seized assets during a Parliament session on Wednesday.

"We, as the European Union, will again step up sanctions against Russia — on the anniversary of the start of the war," Scholz told lawmakers.