New EU decisions on support for Ukraine and record US defense budget: last night's highlights
EU countries agreed on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia and decided to increase military support for Ukraine, while the United States approved a record defense budget and expanded the training program for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
New EU sanctions
Representatives of the governments of the EU member states approved the ninth package of sanctions against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. As previously announced, the new package will include
- adding almost 200 more individuals and legal entities to the sanctions list;
- sanctions against three more Russian banks;
- restrictions on Russia's access to UAVs directly and through potential suppliers from third countries, such as Iran;
- new export controls, in particular on dual-use goods that can be used by the Russian military industry
In addition, the European Commission targeted Russian propaganda and proposed to exclude four more channels from the air. The EC also proposed additional economic measures against the Russian energy and mining sectors.
EU financial assistance
Poland unblocked the EU decision on assistance to Ukraine and funds for Hungary. Earlier, it demanded to remove the issue of the minimum corporate tax, blocking the package with other agreements, in particular on the provision of financial assistance to Ukraine for 18 billion euros.
Strengthening military support
The EU summit also decided to increase military support to Ukraine, in particular in the field of air defense and mine clearance.
Moreover, as noted in the document, the EU will urgently strengthen the provision of humanitarian and civil protection assistance, as well as support the restoration of critical infrastructure of our country, “to help Ukraine survive the winter”.
Record US defense budget
The US Senate has passed a record $858 billion defense budget for 2023. The law received bipartisan support, and with a majority of votes, it was sent to President Joe Biden for signature.
Among other things, the new defense budget provides $800 million for Ukraine. This money is planned to pay the industry for the production of weapons in order to send them to Kyiv, so as not to draw them directly from current US stocks. The law will also speed up the delivery of ammunition to Ukraine by simplifying the bureaucratic procedure.
Expansion of the US exercises for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The United States announced the expansion of the training program for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Europe to train approximately 500 soldiers per month starting from January.
The Pentagon said the training will include live-fire training, squad, platoon, and company-level training, culminating in battalion-level maneuver training. The training will also include joint maneuvers and combined arms operations.
The effectiveness of Ukrainian air defense has increased by 30%
Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the effectiveness of Ukraine's air defense systems has increased from 50% at the beginning of the war to 80% in December. According to Reznikov, Ukraine now has an advantage over Russia in the air. At the same time, Ukraine is calling on its allies to provide more weapons systems, including better air defense systems.
Other news:
- Over 700 companies have moved their facilities to western Ukraine in the last few months. In cooperation with local authorities, this has created hundreds of jobs for displaced people.
- Law enforcers blocked an Odesa provider that provided subscribers with access to propaganda TV channels and Internet resources of Russia and “LPR/DPR”.
- In Belarus, the court sentenced Ukrainians Mykhailo Stoliarchuk and Dmytro Hudyk in the case of alleged “agent activity” in favor of Ukraine. Stoliarchuk was sentenced to 6 years in prison, and Hudyk was sentenced to five years.
- Russian troops are physically destroying every settlement during the offensive in Donbas so that there are no buildings that can be used for defense, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
- The Lithuanian Seimas has allowed private traders to sell automatic weapons that are allowed in civilian circulation. But Russians and Belarusians without Lithuanian citizenship will still not be able to buy them.
- The Pentagon responded to the accusations of Moscow, which threatened with “consequences” if the United States transfers Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. They said that the US will not allow Russia to dictate what security assistance to provide to Ukraine.
- Share: