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
00:20a rise 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
00:31Kyiv with air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars. The funding
00:38also comes as EU leaders participated in key meetings in Kyiv on Monday, including the Coalition
00:44of the Willing meeting aimed at drumming up additional air support and energy supplies
00:49for Ukraine as it edges closer to winter. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
00:58and First Lady Olena Zelenska honoured the memory of fallen soldiers on Monday as the country
01:04marked their independence day. Zelenskyy and his wife laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance,
01:11a memorial to Ukraine's fallen defenders alongside other European leaders as part of the official
01:17celebration. No delegates from the Trump administration were present at the ceremony marking the independence
01:23day as Russia pushes on with its modern four-year-old invasion of the country.
