The powerful and highly mobile weapons systems, which can fire guided rockets with a range of 40 miles, are desperately needed in the battle for eastern Ukraine.
Some NATO countries are wary of sending heavy weapons, hoping for a negotiated truce, but the alliance insists publicly that it is committed to helping Ukraine defeat Russia.
The Russian leader was challenged by the prospect of an enlarged NATO, plans to get Ukrainian grain exports past a Kremlin blockade, and sanctions on his purported mistress.