22 dec 2023 om 15:52
Russia continues to attack infrastructure in Ukraine, often leaving citizens without power during the winter. The European Union is therefore sending five hundred extra energy generators from its own stock to Ukraine.
The generators belong to the European Protection Service RescEU in Poland, the European Commission reported on Friday. The EU previously sent 2,178 generators from this permanent emergency stock to Ukraine.
In total, around 5,500 generators have gone to Ukraine from the EU, including from other emergency supplies.
RescEU also keeps aircraft, medical equipment, field hospitals and other emergency equipment ready. This way, the EU can act more quickly in the event of a crisis.
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More help to keep Ukraine’s energy system running
The generators are intended to “guarantee a sufficient supply of electricity during the cold and dark months”, the European Commission reports. They are powerful enough to keep hospitals, wastewater treatment plants or schools running.
The Ukrainian government had previously called on citizens to save electricity. Russia has been increasingly attacking Ukrainian infrastructure for several months, causing frequent power outages.
To strengthen the Ukrainian energy system, Germany is providing 88.5 million euros, the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Netherlands supplies eighteen fighter aircraft
The Netherlands will send eighteen F-16s to Ukraine. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by telephone on Friday that the Council of Ministers has decided to prepare the devices, he reports on X.
It was already known that the Netherlands would supply the fighter planes. “The supply of F-16s is one of the most important commitments to implement the agreements on military support to Ukraine,” Rutte writes.
But before the devices are actually delivered, a number of conditions must be met. For example, an export license is required and there are requirements for personnel and infrastructure.
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How can one EU country determine Ukraine’s course?
There will be no new (arms) support for the time being
Most EU countries still support Ukraine. Last week, European leaders discussed a new aid package for the country, but Hungary blocked it. As a result, a final decision will be postponed and the leaders will continue discussions in February, Rutte wrote on X.
There is also no new support from the United States. President Joe Biden previously announced a billion-dollar package, but it was blocked by Republicans. In the US, support for Zelensky is declining. Many are not convinced that American aid will help Ukrainian forces win against Russia.
2023-12-22 14:52:00
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