The U.S. Department of Defense announced June 18 that it is sending an additional $250 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, which has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in the eastern half of the country. The money will pay the costs of training, equipment and advisers for the Ukrainian military, including the provision of sniper rifles and grenade launchers. In the meantime, Deutsche Welle reported that during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Berlin on June 18, German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized that European sanctions targeting Russia must be kept in place as long as the conflict in Eastern Ukraine continues.