Paris [France], February 27 (ANI): The French Presidency on Sunday announced that it would ramp up sanctions against Russia and deliver more military equipment to Ukraine. The new sanctions would include national measures to freeze the financial assets of Russian figures as well as new measures to be taken with European partners concerning the SWIFT interbank system, the statement said.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday that France has agreed to supply military equipment to Kyiv as well as ban Russia from the SWIFT international banking system.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced assistance of 300 million Euros (USD 337 million) of aid and military equipment to Ukraine, reported the French daily Le Monde.
Macron also asserted that France will extend humanitarian assistance to people from Ukraine seeking shelter in neighbouring countries. (ANI)
Australia to send weapons to Ukraine via NATO partners
Canberra [Australia], February 27 (ANI/Sputnik): Australia will supply weapons to Ukraine through NATO allies in Europe, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday, days after Canberra said it would only provide Kiev with “non-lethal” assistance.
“We are already providing significant support in terms of non-lethal aid but I’ve just spoken to the Defence Minister [Peter Dutton] and we’ll be seeking to provide whatever support we can for lethal aid through our NATO partners, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom,” Morrison said as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Australian prime minister explained that the NATO channels are the most effective way to expand the military support that his country initially announced on Friday.
“They are already providing support in these areas and we will be assisting them with what they are doing,” Morrison said. (ANI/Sputnik)
EU countries closing airspace for Russia’s airlines: Reports
Berlin [Germany], February 27 (ANI/Sputnik): Countries of the European Union are closing their airspace for Russian air carriers, German media report.
“EU countries are closing the airspace for Russian airlines. Just confirmed to me from a reliable source,” Matthias Deiss, a journalist working for the German ARD broadcaster, said on Twitter late on Saturday.
According to German media reports, Lufthansa, Germany’s flag carrier, is suspending its flights in the Russian airspace for one week amid Russia‘s special military operation in Ukraine. (ANI/Sputnik)
