The Russian Invasion|

The Russian Invasion|The Battles
Report: Russia maintains material advantage for the rest of the year

The Russian defense industry increased its production significantly in 2023, writes the British Ministry of Defense in its daily update on X. Among other things, the production of ammunition has increased significantly in the past year, a development that is expected to continue in 2024.

The report also states that Russia will most likely have a material advantage over Ukraine for the rest of the year.

Several factors have contributed. Among other things, around 3.5 million people now work in Russia's defense industry. At the same time, a large part of what is produced comes from old warehouses that have been modernized.

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The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world
The Netherlands has signed a security agreement with Ukraine

The Netherlands is the latest country on the growing list of countries that have signed far-reaching security agreements with Ukraine, Reuters reports.

The Netherlands promises to send military aid worth more than 22 billion kroner this year and to support Ukraine's defense over the next ten years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte met on Friday in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv to sign the agreement.

- This support will help us protect Ukraine, says Zelensky and expresses his gratitude.

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Macron refuses to back down: "Every word is thought out"

Emmanuel Macron's statement that it is not out of the question to send ground troops to Ukraine in the future has met with a barrage of criticism and denials.

But the French president has no plans to back down.

- These are serious matters. Every word that I utter on this issue is considered and thought out," Macron told reporters in Paris, according to Politico.

One of the few leaders in the West who backs Macron is Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. She also does not think that it is possible to rule out anything in terms of support for Ukraine.

- All countries have understood that we must do everything for Ukraine to win and Russia to lose this war, she tells Politico.
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