"We have just agreed with EU defense ministers that we will keep our promise to deliver 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine. Over 500 thousand shells will be delivered by the end of March while over 1.1 million pieces will arrive by end of 2024".
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur wrote this on Twitter.
During 2024, Ukraine will be able to count on military supplies worth "at least 20 billion euros".
This is what qualified sources assure while the informal defense council is underway in Brussels.
The figure is derived from the promises made by nine EU member states following the survey requested by Germany, which alone promised eight billion.
In total, as far as we know, 17 EU countries - out of 27 - responded to the request for information sent by the EU External Action Service and the total figure could therefore rise at the end of the analyses.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Bundestag that "everything must be done" to continue helping Ukraine and so that Putin cannot count on European support waning.
However, help cannot depend only on Germany, more European countries must "actively" engage.
Citing Helmut Schmidt, Scholz stressed that Germany is only a "middle power".
"Closing the agreement is vital for our credibility and not only for our commitment to provide constant support to Ukraine": this was written by the President of the European Council Charles Michel in the letter of invitation to the 27 in view of the extraordinary summit tomorrow where - he explained - in addition to the review of the common budget, we will also talk about military support for Kiev and the Middle East issue.
“At the December meeting, 26 leaders strongly supported a balanced negotiating framework that took into account a clear set of top priorities,” Michel added.
For further information Agenzia ANSA Crosetto, the EU should be quick and less bureaucratic in its decisions - News - Ansa.it 'Today we will address the situation in Ukraine first but also the Red Sea' (ANSA)
Moscow and Kiev announce exchange of hundreds of prisoners
Russia and Ukraine have announced a new exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war.
"Our people are home. 207 kids", announced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram, adding that "we have to bring everyone home. We are working on it".
At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that "as a result of the talks, 195 Russian soldiers were returned from captivity" in Ukraine
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