Image reproduced from ETtoday 新聞雲

The European Union (EU) announced on the 13th that it will provide an additional €1 billion (approximately NT$34.7 billion) in aid to Ukraine, demonstrating the unwavering support of European allies for Ukraine. This decision aims to assist Ukraine in enhancing its self-defense capabilities to continue resisting Russian aggression.

On the same day, Ukraine retrieved 1,200 corpses of its fallen soldiers returned by Russia, continuing to fulfill a previously reached agreement between both sides. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that the new €1 billion aid will be funded through the interest generated from frozen Russian central bank assets in Europe, aimed at bolstering Ukraine's defense capacities and reaffirming Europe’s steadfast stance in support of its allies.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, the EU has provided a total of €150 billion (approximately NT$5.2 trillion) in aid to Ukraine to address the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict.

Additionally, according to a report from Deutsche Welle (DW), in direct negotiations held on the 2nd in Turkey, the Ukrainian and Russian delegations did not reach a ceasefire agreement but agreed to exchange at least 1,000 prisoners and return 6,000 corpses of fallen soldiers each, laying the groundwork for potential future negotiations.

Moreover, Ukrainian authorities confirmed that after the latest round of prisoner exchanges that commenced on the 12th, where both sides exchanged 1,200 combatants, they also received 1,200 corpses of fallen soldiers transferred by Russia on the 13th. The remains will be examined by investigative personnel and relevant experts to properly identify the deceased.

This series of actions marks that a dialogue channel remains open between Ukraine and Russia amidst ongoing hostilities, indicating a level of engagement between the two parties even as fighting continues. The Ukrainian military continues to receive support from the international community, and this €1 billion aid serves as a booster in its efforts to resist Russian aggression.