Prague to offer Ukraine millions in arms, France to send troops to Romania

• 

The Defense Minister of the Czech Republic, Jana Cernochova announced on Saturday that Prague would provide Ukraine with $8.6 million in military equipment.

In a tweet, the Minister said, "The government on Saturday approved further help to Ukraine, which is facing a Russian attack."

The lethal equipment includes machine guns, automatic and sniper rifles, handguns, and ammunition.

According to Cernochova, the help of Prague "is not over," detailing that the Defense Ministry will also "take care of transport to a place set by the Ukrainian side."

Last month, Prague gave Ukraine 4,000 artillery shells worth $1.6 million.

Days ago, the second batch of military transport aircraft C-17 of the Royal Canadian Air Force arrived in Ukraine.

Additionally, on Saturday, US President Joe Biden announced that he will allocate $600 million in immediate military aid to Ukraine, including $350 million for the Department of Defense. 

France to send 500 troops to Romania

On his part, France is to deploy 500 military personnel as part of NATO forces to Romania, the army chief of staff said Friday.

"NATO has decided to reinforce its presence to send a very clear sign of strategic solidarity, to position forces in Romania," Thierry Burkhard told Radio France Internationale and broadcaster France24.

"We will send around 500 men with armoured vehicles."

He said France would also maintain a military presence in Estonia, which borders Russia, beyond March.

In view of "the war in Ukraine, it has been decided we will maintain our presence" of 200 to 250 men with armored vehicles in the Baltic nation, he said.

With Putin stressing that NATO-allied neo-Nazis are moving closer to the Russian borders from Ukraine, he authorized a special military operation in Donbass this Thursday morning.

Putin recently recognized the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). 

The announcement had been preceded by intense Ukrainian shelling of the two republics, and Russia's recognition of their statehood was a move to protect the innocent civilians from the Ukrainian aggressions.