EU approves new aid package for Ukraine, US says Russia sends more troops to frontline

The European Union (EU) has just approved a new military aid package worth 500 million Euros for Ukraine. The move took place when 27 EU foreign ministers met in Brussels, Belgium on January 23.

Ukrainian soldiers fire an FH-70 howitzer in the Donbass region, eastern Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

According to RT, the money for the new weapons will be drawn from the “European Peace Fund”, a coalition fund used to finance foreign armies. Since the conflict broke out in late February 2022, Ukraine has received 3.1 billion euros from this fund, through seven consecutive aid packages.

The new 500 million euro military aid package was approved along with a 45 million euro package of “non-lethal equipment” for the EU military training mission for Kiev’s armed forces, sources told Reuters.

Poland ready to send tanks to Ukraine

Poland has reiterated that it is ready to send tanks to Ukraine without German approval. The Guardian newspaper quoted Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as saying that Warsaw would ask Berlin for permission to supply German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. However, Mr. Morawiecki described such approval as only of “secondary importance.”

However, a German government spokesman said Berlin has not received a request from Poland or any other country to allow the transfer of Leopard 2s to Kiev.

Russia has warned that the people of Ukraine “will pay the price” if the West decides to send tanks to support its army, a Kremlin spokesman said, adding that divisions in Europe over the issue reflected growing concerns within NATO.

US says Russia sent more troops to Ukraine

Russian reservists attend a farewell ceremony in Omsk, Russia, before leaving for a special military operation in Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

A senior US military official said on January 23 that Russia has sent tens of thousands of new troops to reinforce frontline areas in Ukraine in recent months. However, CNN quoted the official as saying that these troops have not made much difference.

Moscow has not yet responded to the above information.

86% of schools in Kiev region have bomb shelters

Books and toys inside a bomb shelter at a school in Kiev. Photo: CNN

On the same day, Oleksiy Kuleba, Governor of Ukraine's Kiev region, revealed on Telegram that a total of 1,085 bomb shelters have been built in educational institutions there. So far, 86% of kindergartens and schools in the region have had bomb shelters for students.