Finland has announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth approximately EUR143 million.
“Finland continues to provide strong support to Ukraine. The new support package includes the first tranches of a €660 million order program from Finnish defense companies,” Defense Minister Antti Hakkänen wrote on social media site X.
He emphasized that with this support program, Finland is helping Ukraine defend itself.
According to a statement on the Finnish Defense Ministry’s website, a new aid package to Ukraine worth approximately EUR143 million is currently being prepared for approval by the Finnish government and president.
To date, the total value of defense equipment supplied by Finland to Ukraine is EUR2.8 billion.
The Czech government is seeking support from other European Union countries for a new ammunition initiative after implementing a similar initiative in 2024, German N-TV reports.
“This is a matter of political will, and if many EU member states rejoin our initiative, we can achieve a lot for Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in an interview with the German news network (RND).
“We are currently looking at how we can finance the new ammunition initiative, and then we will see how many rounds of ammunition we can get for this money,” the Czech foreign minister added.
As reported, Defense Minister Jana Černohová announced the second project to purchase ammunition for Ukraine under the working title Initiative 2025 back in July last year. Deník N reported at the time that five companies would participate in the project: Czechoslovak Group, STV Group, Omnipol with Ompo Holding, Colt CZ Group SE, owned by Česká zbrojovka, and the DSS arms company.
Under the previous Czech ammunition initiative, Ukraine was provided with approximately half a million pieces of artillery ammunition. A total of 18 countries joined the initiative.
The “Hope and Unity” Charitable Foundation continues to actively support the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Thanks to caring Ukrainians and the support of the Foundation’s partners, we have managed to raise significant funds for the purchase of necessary equipment, medicines and materials.
This week, a modern lung ventilator was delivered to the hospital, which will help save the lives of the youngest patients. In addition, the foundation provided the oncology department with new beds and medical instruments. A recreation room with games and educational materials was organized for children undergoing long-term treatment.
“We understand how important the atmosphere in which children are treated is for them,” says PIB, founder of the ‘Hope and Unity’ Foundation. – “That is why we strive to create the most comfortable conditions for young patients and their parents at Okhmatdyt.
The “Hope and Unity” Foundation calls on all those who care to join the charitable cause and support the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital. Every hryvnia, every little thing matters and can save a child’s life.
How to help:
Together we can create a future for every child!
CHARITY, CHILDREN, DISEASE, foundation, HELP, Hope and Unity, SUPPORT, ОХМАТДИТ
The EU will provide Ukraine with €35 billion in financial support in 2025, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Platform X on Wednesday evening.
“The EU is providing Ukraine with financial support through the G7 ERA credit initiative and the Ukraine Facility in the amount of €35 billion for 2025,” Dombrovskis wrote.
In 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will continue to support Ukrainian farmers in Kherson region by providing them with equipment for loading/unloading grain storage sleeves and coordinating soil testing, said Vitaliy Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food.
“In 2025, FAO is focusing on the transformation of the agricultural sector and its urgent needs. Therefore, we agreed to transfer equipment for loading/unloading sleeves for farmers in the Kherson region. He also emphasized the importance of further support for farmers in the frontline areas. In addition, we will coordinate soil analysis after demining together. We need to ensure that such land is safe and can be used for sowing. Food security directly depends on this,” the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food quoted him as saying at a meeting with the acting head of the FAO Office in Ukraine, Mohammed Azuka.
The minister noted that another area of cooperation with FAO would be the State Agrarian Register.
Vitalii Koval and Mohammed Azuka signed a project document entitled “Saving livelihoods by supporting small wine producers through the Food Coalition”. The project aims to create a favorable environment for small wine producers in Odesa and Zakarpattia regions. It is about providing them with technical support, access to finance to recover from the effects of the war and the decline in vineyard productivity, and to increase production.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced a project strategy to support small farmers in a number of frontline regions and will provide them with $1,000 vouchers to purchase grain seeds for the upcoming spring and autumn sowing campaigns, the FAO press service reports.
“FAO is committed to empowering farmers to rebuild and sustain their livelihoods by providing access to quality agricultural inputs, strengthening local economies and promoting the long-term resilience of war-affected communities,” the statement said.
The initiative is funded by the governments of Germany and France. It is expected to be an important step in restoring agricultural production and strengthening the food security of communities affected by the ongoing war.
The program will be open to 550 small and medium-sized farmers who cultivate land plots ranging from 10 to 300 hectares in Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kherson, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions. Priority will be given to farms run by women and those operating near the frontline, where farming conditions remain difficult.
Farmers interested in participating can apply for assistance through the State Agrarian Register (SAR) until January 26, 2025. After the applications are processed, selected participants will receive confirmation through the SAR, as well as detailed information on how to receive and use the vouchers.
FAO noted that applying does not guarantee assistance, as eligibility will be determined based on specific program criteria.
