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Germany and Slovenia have sealed a deal that will see Slovenia send 28 tanks of Soviet-era design to Ukraine and get 40 modern military trucks from Germany, the German Defense Ministry said Tuesday. It didn’t specify when the vehicles will be delivered. The agreement foresees Slovenia handing over 28 M-55S tanks to Ukraine and getting 40 military trucks, including five tankers.

Russian lawmakers Tuesday approved a bill that would toughen punishment for offenses committed during war, including desertion, insubordination and evading military service, a move that could be laying the groundwork for a possible military escalation in Ukraine. The bill comes amid debate in Russia about a possible nationwide military draft after Ukrainian successes on the battlefield. The bill is expected to be approved today by the Federation Council, the country’s upper house of parliament, before being signed by President Vladimir Putin. It would introduce tougher prison terms for desertion, evading service by “simulating illness” and insubordination. It also makes voluntary surrender a criminal offense punishable by up to 10 years behind bars. Looting would be punishable with a prison term of up to six years, according to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

Members of the far-right Alternative for Germany party said they were traveling to Russian occupied-areas of eastern Ukraine on Tuesday. Christian Blex, a representative in the regional parliament in the western state of North Rhine Westphalia, said he had left for occupied Ukraine, with colleagues from the eastern state of Saxony Anhalt. Putin, before launching his invasion of Ukraine, recognized the two breakaway areas of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent. The visit by the lawmakers stands to legitimize the Kremlin’s claims that the regions need Russian protection.