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Added on the 15/03/2015 02:15:27 - Copyright : Reuters EN
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says that alliance members must guarantee long-term weapon deliveries for Ukraine, as ministers prepared to discuss a proposal for a 100-billion-euro, five-year fund. Speaking in Brussels, where NATO foreign ministers are meeting to forge a support package by a July summit in Washington, Stoltenberg says "we must ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul." "We must ensure reliable and predictable security assistance to Ukraine for the long haul so that we rely less on the voluntary contributions and more on NATO commitments, less on short-term offers and more on multi-year pledges," Stoltenberg says as NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels. SOUNDBITE
Hundreds of people gather to pay their respects and lay flowers at the grave of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on the final day of a presidential election that is guaranteed to cement Vladimir Putin's hardline rule. Before his death in an Arctic prison last month, Navalny urged Russians to protest on March 17. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has reiterated his call and said protesters should show up in large numbers at the same time to overwhelm polling stations. IMAGES
As he arrives for the European Union leaders' summit in Belgium, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban declares that he is "proud" of keeping can contact with Russia "in favour of the peace". SOUNDBITE
The United States announces a fresh tranche of arms to bolster Ukraine's mounting counteroffensive against Russian forces, including armored vehicles, precision munitions and mine-clearing equipment. "Today, the Biden-Harris administration is announcing a new security assistance package for Ukraine, as we continue to stand with the people of Ukraine," says White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton. The $500 million package comes just days after Russia's own warmaking capacity appeared to fray with a mutiny by its privately run Wagner force. SOUNDBITE
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday welcomed a peace mission by African leaders to Ukraine, but warned only a "just" solution that treats Russia as the aggressor would work. Stoltenberg was speaking to the media after a meeting of NATO ministers. SOUNDBITE