On Wednesday, the European Union came to an agreement to implement a fresh set of penalties against Russia as a reaction to their ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Around 200 individuals and organizations are prohibited from conducting business with EU companies or travelling to the region as part of the sanctions.

“EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that this package will enable us to further combat entities that engage in evading sanctions, particularly in the defense and military industries.”

The sanctions also apply to Chinese companies that are supplying military technology to Russia, not just Russian companies.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that it is imperative to continue decreasing the strength of Putin’s military force. She added that with a total of 2,000 listings, the pressure remains strong on the Kremlin. Additionally, measures are being taken to limit Russia’s use of drones.

The armed forces of Ukraine reported on Wednesday that Russia launched an attack during the night using 19 drones and several missiles.

The air force of Ukraine reported that their air defense systems successfully took down 13 out of 19 drones and one out of six missiles.

The unmanned aerial vehicles were stopped in the areas of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk.

According to a message on Telegram by Serhiy Lysak, the governor of Dnipropetrovsk, drones were successfully taken down in two areas and the region was also bombarded by Russian forces. Lysak stated that there were no recorded casualties.

The Pentagon announced that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov spoke on the phone on Tuesday to discuss updates on the battlefield.

The Pentagon’s Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that Secretary Austin restated our coalition’s unwavering dedication to Ukraine as Russia’s aggressive war nears its two-year anniversary. The coalition consists of 50 Allies and partners who are committed to providing support.

The United States has formed a group of nations to work together in providing assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces as they combat the extensive Russian invasion. The most recent discussions, held last week, occurred during a period of temporary cessation in U.S. aid due to the depletion of funds in December.

Umerov reported that Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the new head of Ukraine’s army, also participated in the discussion regarding updates on the frontline situation and the country’s ammunition inventory.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for a military assistance package worth $683 million from Sweden.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for Sweden’s assistance, which he sees as a valuable aid in protecting Ukraine from Russian aggression and promoting stability and liberty in Europe.

“The provision of artillery ammunition, air defense systems, grenade launchers, combat boats, armored vehicles, and other necessary equipment is meeting the urgent demands of our frontline soldiers,” stated Zelenskyy on his social media account.

The Swedish Defense Minister, Pal Jonson, announced that his country is providing the largest aid package to Ukraine to date. He stated that the equipment and weapons included in the package address some of Ukraine’s most urgent needs.

According to Jonson, Ukraine is not just protecting its own independence, but also that of all European countries. Sweden will support Ukraine for however long it is needed. It is imperative that Russia does not emerge victorious in this conflict.

The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters provided some of the information for this report.

Source: voanews.com