00:01The European Union has approved Ukraine's next spending envelope of 6.1 billion euros for
00:08defense procurement as part of the bloc's 90 billion euros loan program the EU executive
00:14announced on Monday. The approval comes as Ukraine marks 35 years of independence amid a
00:20rise in civilian deaths from Russian attacks due to Kiev's shortage of air defense systems.
00:26According to a statement by the European Commission, the defense funding aims to supply
00:31Kiev with air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars. The funding
00:38also comes as EU leaders participated in key meetings in Kiev on Monday, including the
00:44Coalition of the Willing meeting aimed at drumming up additional air support and energy supplies
00:49for Ukraine as it edges closer to winter.
00:55Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska honoured the memory
01:01of fallen soldiers on Monday as the country marked their independence day.
01:07Zelensky and his wife laid flowers at the wall of remembrance, a memorial to Ukraine's fallen
01:13defenders alongside other European leaders as part of the official celebration. No delegates
01:19from the Trump administration were present at the ceremony marking the independence day
01:24as Russia pushes on with its modern four-year-old invasion of the country.
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