The European Union has approved 543m dollars of additional military aid for Ukraine, the EU said.

In total, the EU has allocated Ukraine 1.63 billion dollars in military assistance.

The new package will finance the provision of equipment and supplies to Ukraine's Armed Forces, including “personal protective equipment, first aid kits and fuel, as well as military equipment designed to deliver lethal force for defensive purposes," the European Council said in a statement.

“As Russia prepares for an offensive on the east of Ukraine, it is crucial that we continue and step up our military support to Ukraine to defend its territory and population and prevent further suffering,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said in a statement.