Latest news from Russia’s war in Ukraine

A US Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) patrols the countryside of the Kurdish-majority town of Qamishli in Syria’s northeastern Hasakeh province on April 20. (Delil souleiman/AFP/Getty Images)

Western arms supplies to Ukraine will “add pain” and “prolong the suffering” of Ukrainians, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Commenting on France’s decision to hand over armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine, Peskov said there was no point in talking only about French supplies, since “the collective Europe, the US and NATO sent weapons to Ukraine worth tens of billions of dollars.”

“Supplies can add pain to the Ukrainian people, prolong their suffering. But they cannot fundamentally change anything. [en Ucrania]Peskov said.

“These supplies are not capable of disrupting the achievement of the objectives of the special military operation,” he added. Moscow has continually referred to its invasion of Ukraine as a “special military operation.”

Recent events: Germany currently has no plans to deliver Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, but is preparing to send up to 40 Marder infantry battle tanks, its Defense Ministry spokesman said Monday.

Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, are preparing to start training Ukrainian soldiers, Arne Collatz told reporters. And last week, President Joe Biden said the United States would supply Ukraine with Bradley fighting vehicles as part of a new package to help the country’s security as the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches.

The recent package of nearly $3 billion is one of the largest shipments of military hardware by the Pentagon to Ukraine since the war began. It comes at a time when Ukraine is preparing for heavy fighting in the spring as the weather warms.