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WORLD NEWS Friday 12 august 2022
Western nations pledge more military support for Ukraine

By JAN M. OLSEN who attended the confer-
Associated Press ence, declined to give de-
COPENHAGEN, Denmark tails on what weapons his
(AP) — Western countries country will get.
agreed Thursday to con- The conference, co-hosted
tinue long-term funding to by Denmark, Britain and
help Ukraine’s military keep Ukraine, followed an April
fighting nearly 5½ months meeting at a U.S. air base
after Russia invaded its in Germany that estab-
neighbor, saying 1.5 billion lished the U.S.-led Ukraine
euros ($1.5 billion) has been Defense Contact Group,
pledged so far and more is which coordinates interna-
coming. tional military support for
The money is for enhanc- Ukraine.
ing armaments production, Britain on Thursday an-
including artillery and am- nounced that it will send
munition; developing and more multiple launch rock-
strengthening the training et systems and guided mis-
of Ukrainian soldiers and siles to Ukraine to help it re-
assisting Ukraine’s efforts to sist Russia’s invasion.
demine areas. The new weapons, whose
“All the countries that number wasn’t specified,
came to Copenhagen Danish Defense Minister Morten Boedskov, center, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, come on top of several
came with the intention of third from down right, Great Britain’s Defense Minister Ben Wallace, third from down left, and the rest rocket-launch systems it
supporting Ukraine,” Dan- of participants pose for a family photo during the donor conference for Ukraine at Christiansborg gave Ukraine earlier this
ish Defense Minister Morten Palace in Copenhagen, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. year.
Bødskov said at the end of Associated Press Ukrainian troops have
the one-day meeting of 26 ed donations by the U.K., lic for signaling a “willing- ing trainers,” its foreign min- been trained in Britain to
nations and the European Denmark and Norway but ness to expand production ister said. use them. “Our continued
Union. “it will grow,” Bødskov said, of artillery systems, ammu- In a live feed, Ukrainian support sends a very clear
British Defense Secretary adding “some of the coun- nitions and other equip- President Volodymyr Zel- message, Britain and the in-
Ben Wallace said the meet- tries need to go back home ment.” enskyy called on Western ternational community re-
ing proved that Russian and get the support of their At the conference, Nor- nations to provide more main opposed to this illegal
President Vladimir “Putin’s parliaments.” way said it would help train money, saying “the sooner war and will stand shoul-
ambition (of the West los- Bødskov said that “money Ukrainian troops in Britain. we stop Russia, the sooner der-to-shoulder, providing
ing its willingness to support alone will not do the trick, Sweden and Finland ear- we can feel safe.” defensive military aid to
Ukraine) has failed.” as you say, we need in- lier said they would do the “We need armaments, Ukraine to help them de-
“We are still determined,” creased productions.” same. munitions for our defense,” fend against Putin’s inva-
Wallace said. He thanksed Poland, Slova- Iceland will assist demining he said. Ukrainian Defense sion,” Wallace, the defense
The 1.5 billion euros includ- kia and the Czech Repub- efforts in Ukraine “by train- Minister Oleksii Reznikov, chief, said. q

Sri Lankan ex-president who fled homeland arrives in Bangkok

BANGKOK (AP) — Former Chan-ocha said he was collapse.
Sri Lankan President Got- aware of Rajapaksa’s in- Protesters who had oc-
abaya Rajapaksa, who last tended visit and that it was cupied official offices and
month fled anti-govern- allowed for humanitarian residences in Sri Lanka’s
ment protests in his country, reasons because the for- capital, Colombo, blame
arrived in Thailand on Thurs- mer president was seeking mismanagement and cor-
day night on a flight from asylum in a third country. ruption by the Rajapaksa
Singapore, where he had He did not elaborate but family for the economic
been staying since mid- said Rajapaksa would not crisis that has led to seri-
July. engage in political activity ous shortages of essentials
Thai television stations while in Thailand. such as medicines, food
showed Rajapaksa and a Rajapaksa has made no and fuel. The island nation
woman believed to be his public comments about his is negotiating with the Inter-
wife outside the VIP hall at travel plans. After fleeing national Monetary Fund for
Bangkok’s Don Mueang Sri Lanka last month, he first a bailout program.
airport being led to a lim- went to neighboring Mal- Thai Foreign Ministry spokes-
ousine, which then drove dives in a Sri Lankan military person Tanee Sangrat said
off to an undisclosed desti- plane and then to Singa- Wednesday that Rajapak- Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, center,
nation. pore, where his visa expired sa’s “stay is temporary in walks to a waiting vehicle outside the Don Mueaung airport in
Officials in Thailand on Thursday. He submitted his nature with the aim of on- Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022.
Wednesday said they resignation only after he ward travel. Associated Press
had been asked by the Sri left Sri Lanka. No political asylum has without a visa. of involvement with war
Lankan government to al- Sri Lankans have staged been sought.” He said that In addition to being criti- crimes when he was de-
low him entry, and that he massive street protests for because the former presi- cized for mismanaging his fense secretary during Sri
would be permitted to stay months demanding demo- dent held a diplomatic country’s economy, Raja- Lanka’s civil war, which
temporarily. cratic reforms and solutions passport, he would be al- paksa has been accused ended in 2009.q
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth to the country’s economic lowed to stay for 90 days by human rights groups