The EU agreed to supplement the fund for the payment of military support with 2 billion euros

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the Group of Seven (G7) to help his government with two billion cubic meters of natural gas, as well as the supply of modern tanks, artillery units and grenades and long-range weapons.

Speaking at the G7 video conference organized by Germany, Zelensky also called on Russia to take a "substantial" step towards a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, and suggested that Moscow withdraw its troops by Christmas, reports Reuters.

"If Russia withdraws its forces from Ukraine, it will also ensure a reliable end to hostilities," he said.

"I see no reason why Russia should not do it now," Zelensky added.

The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) announced that they expect another wave of several hundred thousand refugees from Ukraine to Europe during the winter.

"No one knows how many, but there will be hundreds of thousands more people who will leave Ukraine because the bombing of civilian infrastructure makes life impossible in many places," said Jan Egeland.

"I am afraid that the crisis in Europe will deepen and that it will overshadow the crises in other places in the world," he said.

Russia's attacks on Ukraine's power infrastructure have left millions without heat, clean water or electricity as temperatures plummet.

According to the United Nations, about 18 million people or 40 percent of the population of Ukraine depend on aid, while 7,8 million citizens have gone to other parts of Europe.

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace said he would be "free" to supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons if Russia continues to target civilian areas, Reuters reports.

He said this to the parliament, when asked by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, about the possible supply of Kiev with longer-range missile systems for destroying or damaging drone launch sites.

"I'm constantly reviewing the weapons systems we can provide," Wallace said.

"We have longer-range weapon systems, and if the Russians continue to target civilian areas and try to violate the Geneva Convention, then I'll be open to seeing what we do next," Wallace said.

It is the two hundred and ninety-second day of the war in Ukraine.

The ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union agreed today to supplement the fund that was used to pay for military support to Ukraine with another 2 billion euros.

There is a possibility of a further increase at a later stage, with a total increase up to 2027 billion euros by 5,5, the European Council, which groups the member countries of the bloc, announced, reports Reuters. 

"Today's decision will ensure that we have the means to continue providing concrete military support to the armed forces of our partners," said the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borelj, in a statement.