EU cuts ties with Russia, to purchase weapons for Ukraine
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Staff reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 28-02-2022, 08:49AM
KYIV, Ukraine - The European Union [EU] has severed ties with President Vladimir Putin of Russia following the "unprecedented" invasion of Ukraine, arguing that the actions by Russia "cannot be justified" anywhere in the universe.
Russia started a war with Ukraine last week and so far, thousands of people including servicemen from either side are believed to have died with weaponry worth millions of dollars destroyed as aggression went on without military intervention from the international community.
On Sunday, the EU announced that for the first time in history it was financing the purchase of weapons for the country which is under attack. Already, several media reports indicate the EU has dispatched military jets to help Ukraine face the Russians.
"We are stepping up our support for Ukraine. For the first time, the EU will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and equipment to a country under attack," said Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU. "We are also strengthening our sanctions against the Kremlin."
Further, the EU is now targeting airspace for Russian-owned aircraft from flying across Europe besides putting more focus on regulating Russian media has already been accused of spreading disinformation.
"First, we are shutting down the EU airspace for Russian-owned, Russian registered, or Russian-controlled aircraft.
They won’t be able to land in, take off or overfly the territory of the EU. Including the private jets of oligarchs," she said in a statement.
"Second, we will ban the Kremlin’s media machine in the EU. The state-owned Russia Today and Sputnik, and their subsidiaries, will no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin’s war. We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe."
The European Union is also targeting the Belarusian regime under the leadership of Alexander Lukashenko, who has been accused of collaborating with authorities in Moscow. Local media in Ukraine reported, Monday that Belarus has resolved to join Russia in the aggression.
Ukraine Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Putin's nuclear threat is an attempt to put pressure on Ukraine ahead of the negotiations with Russia. Putin's order came shortly after it was announced that the two delegations were ready to meet, Dmytro Kuleba said.
"We will not succumb to this pressure."
Blasts were heard in Kyiv and Kharkiv early on Monday morning, Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection reported. A missile struck a residential building in Chernihiv, a city 150 km north from Kyiv, according to the State Communications Service.
Two lower floors were set on fire. There is currently no information about casualties. The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said Russia suffers significant losses.
As of 6 pm, Feb. 27, an estimated loss of personnel – about 4,500 people, tanks – about 150, armored vehicles – over 700, fuel tanks – 60, Buk system – 1, Grad systems – 4, helicopters – 26.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told British PM Boris Johnson this evening that he believed the next 24 hours was a crucial period for Ukraine. Alexander Lukashenko also significantly extended his executive powers.
No one exactly knows how many Somalis are in Ukraine, but the estimate is that they are between 250-300, mostly students and refugees. It’s believed most of them arrived or are on their way to the border with Poland; some reached Germany. Some are still in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipro.
GAROWE ONLINE
