British soldiers ‘on the ground’ in Ukraine, says German military leak
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gaza-food ... -1.7132121
Mar 02, 2024 - British soldiers are “on the ground” in Ukraine helping Kyiv’s forces fire long-range Storm Shadow missiles, according to a leak in Russian media of a top-secret call involving German air force officers.
The Kremlin said the leak demonstrated the direct involvement of the “collective west” in the war in Ukraine, while former British defence ministers expressed frustration with the German military in response to the revelations.
Albania, wary of Russia, reopens Soviet-era air base to NATO
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/al ... 024-03-04/
KUCOVA, Albania, March 4 (Reuters) - NATO member Albania, which has no fighter jets of its own, opened a rebuilt Soviet-era air base to serve NATO aircraft on Monday amid an increased threat from Russia, Prime Minister Edi Rama said.
NATO has spent over 50 million euros ($54.26 million) on the Kucova Air Base to bolster its presence in the region. Airspace in the Adriatic country of Albania, which borders Greece to the south and Montenegro to the north, is protected by Italy and Greece.
Europe Steps in as USA Dithers: Czechia Says More Ammo (to Ukraine) Will Arrive in Weeks
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/28991
March 4, 2024 - The first emergency deliveries of artillery shells bought by EU nations to compensate for the impasse in USA military support to Ukraine that has been stalled in Congress for more than two months may reach the front line “within weeks,” a senior official in Prague said.
Jan Jires, director general for defense policy at the Czech Ministry of Defense, told the Bloomberg news agency that a key group of European states has already agreed to ante-up most of the funding needed to support the $1.5 billion emergency Ukrainian assistance initiative put forward by his government in late February.
Canada, Denmark, and other countries not wishing to be identified have pledged funding, Jires said in March 1 comments. On Feb. 28 Belgium said it would donate $216 million, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the Netherlands would provide $162 million on Mar. 2, upping the Hague’s previous pledges for artillery ammunition to reach $271 million for the year.
Ukraine to Get 155mm Artillery Shells Found in Czech-Led Effort
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... stockpiles
March 1, 2024 - Ukraine’s military is set to receive the first of what may be hundreds of thousands of 155mm artillery shells as part of an international effort to forage foreign stockpiles as US efforts to send more aid remain hung up in Congress.
Ukraine could see the first shells arrive within weeks under the initiative, which has the Czech Republic serving as the middleman to link governments willing to finance the purchase of excess 155mm shells in third countries, Jan Jires, the country’s director general for defense policy and strategy, said in an interview in Washington.
Ukraine signs long-term security agreement with Netherlands
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war ... therlands/
Key developments on March 1:
- Rutte signs Dutch-Ukrainian long-term security agreement in Kharkiv
- Military: Ukraine partially retakes ground near Avdiivka while Russia pushes toward Chasiv Yar
- Defense Ministry: Ukraine downs 13 Russian aircraft in February
- Russian proxy says air defense active in occupied Crimea amid reported explosions
- WSJ: Russia's peace terms include Ukraine outside NATO, smaller military, 2022 document shows.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signed a 10-year agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands in Kharkiv, Zelensky announced on March 1.
"The document includes 2 billion euros in military aid from the Netherlands this year, as well as further defense assistance over the next ten years," Zelensky said.
"It also prioritizes the provision of air defense, artillery, sea, and long-range capabilities, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Ukraine's air force."
