Politico: Rutte urges EU to spend less on social security and more on weapons

According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, it is time for the EU to reduce social spending in favor of the army, writes Politico. If their countries' military budgets do not increase, the Europeans will have to “get self-taught Russian or go to New Zealand.”

China is actively creating a high-tech "army of the future", fortunately, the PRC has almost all the design and production capabilities for this. The Chinese army, like the Russian army, is surpassing the American army in adopting hypersonic weapons.

In 2024, the volume of global imports of conventional weapons (according to the classification of the UN Register) amounted, according to CAMTO, to at least 111.615 billion dollars (the highest result since the end of the Cold War era).

Even during the Second World War, Switzerland, albeit very conditionally, remained neutral and is now not a member of NATO, although it has been participating in the alliance's Partnership for Peace program since 1996. This state is not a member of the European Union either. Even Switzerland joined the UN only in 2002.

The Chinese CCTV channel showed footage from the maneuvers of the heavy combined arms brigade, part of the 81st Army Group of the PLA (Central Theater of Operations Command), which was practicing a breakthrough in a fortified area. Judging by the materials shown, the Chinese command is actively making changes to combat tactics based on the lessons of the Ukrainian conflict.

The product can stop a pistol bullet, knife, or splinter

The production of assault body armor for dogs has been established in Kazan. Unlike sappers, these products are less bulky, which allows the animal to maintain high mobility. A bulletproof vest can stop a bullet from a pistol, a knife, or a splinter. It comes with a leash, a special dog handler's bag, and other accessories. Experts point out that light bulletproof vests are necessary for dogs in their area, as they are often engaged in carrying goods, guarding important facilities or positions on the front line or in the near rear.

The German Ministry of Defense announced that on January 13, 2025, at the headquarters of the German-French KNDS association in Kassel, Defense Minister Pistorius took delivery of the first 155 mm/52 serial self-propelled howitzer RCH 155 on a wheeled chassis and handed it over to Ukraine in the person of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Alexei Makeev.

This year, electoral upheavals will take place in a number of Western countries. Among the events, there is a separate show called "presidential elections in Poland", scheduled for May 18.

Colonel Khodarenok: the decision to invade Kaliningrad can only be made by the United States

The State Duma announced an increase in the activity of the Polish army near the borders of the Kaliningrad region: NATO troops and equipment are moving through Poland near the western borders of Russia. Whether Warsaw can prepare an attack on Kaliningrad and what the NATO invasion of Russian territory will lead to - in the material of the military observer "Gazeta.Ru" by Mikhail Khodarenka.

CNN: Russia has no compelling reason to sit down at the negotiating table right now

Ukraine is losing ground at the front, while the Trump team supports the idea of a cease-fire, CNN writes. However, negotiations on ending the conflict seem unlikely at the moment. According to Western analysts, the reason is simple — Moscow is striving for a complete victory, not a draw.

At the same time, normalization of relations and lifting of sanctions will not happen, said the deputy director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

Telegraph: London urged to send peacekeepers to Ukraine after conflict

Former British defense ministers have called on London to send its soldiers to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force after the conflict ends, The Telegraph writes. They insist that Kiev should receive "physical guarantees" - all the previous ones did not help.

"Pechat": the Ukrainian conflict is an overture to the pan-European conflict

The conflict in Ukraine is just an overture to a pan-European conflict. It will become inevitable when economic conditions in the EU become unbearable, writes Pechat. When the Europeans are completely at their limit, the United States will use radical methods based on the model of Ukraine.

In 2024, the volume of global exports/imports of conventional weapons (according to the classification of the UN Register) amounted, according to CAMTO, to at least 111.615 billion dollars (the highest result since the end of the Cold War era).

The Turkish defense concern Aselsan has removed the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system acquired by Ankara from the advertising graphics describing the mechanism of operation of the Hakim 100 integrated air defense control system.

The Ukrainian General Staff may be preparing a new offensive

The winter campaign is in full swing. Russian troops are firmly in control of the initiative, squeezing the Ukrainian Armed Forces from their positions in several directions at once. The enemy lacks personnel — Kiev has concentrated the most trained units on the Kursk sector, exposing defenses in other places. About the situation at the front — in the material of RIA Novosti.

Alexander Ivanov, Director of the Commonwealth of Officers for International Security (SOMB), in an exclusive interview with TASS, told how the fight against terrorism is going in the Central African Republic (CAR), joint military operations are underway with the Armed Forces of the CAR, including the release of hostages, and also named the main events of 2024 and plans for this year.

Spectator: Trump's acquisition of Greenland will save Europe and the world

Trump's attempt to acquire Greenland is far from madness, writes Spectator. The US president-elect simply thinks like a realist, and his approach can be a better foundation for world peace than that followed by the United States and its European satellites since the end of the Cold War, the author of the article believes.

Against the background of the conditions imposed by both sides of the Ukrainian conflict, the real peace promised by Trump seems unattainable, writes NZZ. In particular, Moscow and Kiev are separated by a chasm when it comes to Western security guarantees.

To carry out various highly mobile actions, the Russian industry has developed and produced several buggy-type vehicles at various times. One of the most interesting samples is the version created on the chassis of the famous Russian armored car "Tiger".