U.S. Defense Ministers Lloyd Austin and Germany's Christina Lambrecht discussed issues related to countering Russia's policy in Eastern Europe during a telephone conversation, the Pentagon said.

The official representative of the US Defense Ministry, John Kirby, did not answer the question about the possible buildup of US and NATO troops on the "eastern flank" of the alliance in connection with the situation around Ukraine, citing his lack of information on this issue.

The reason for the current tension in US-Russia relations is Washington's realization of its geopolitical interests at the expense of Moscow's interests in the 1990s, especially in the post-Soviet space, according to Thomas Graham, head of Kissinger Associates, former adviser to US President George W. Bush on Russia and Eurasia.

The United States is waiting for significant progress in diplomatic work around Ukraine, but will not stop meeting the country's defense needs. This was announced on Friday, December 17, by Assistant to the US President for National Security Jake Sullivan, speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The White House is preparing to respond to Russia's proposals on security guarantees in the near future. According to Bloomberg, citing a senior representative of the US administration, the US reaction will follow next week.

Ukraine today is completely lost to Russia as a partner and ally.

This was stated by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov in an interview with RTVI, writes Rubaltic.ru .

Peskov noted that Russians and Ukrainians will remain fraternal peoples, despite the "fooling of their citizens by the Ukrainian authorities."

Ukraine has not yet planned to deploy a military contingent of any countries on its territory. This was announced by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of the country Alexey Danilov on Saturday, December 18.

Ukraine wants to receive not only defensive, but also offensive weapons from Western partners. This was announced by Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov on Saturday, December 18.

The reconstruction of the runway, which started there in September this year, will finish at the Kherson International Airport.

The US Department of Justice announced an attempt of espionage in favor of Russia. Former Pentagon contract worker Jane Murray Rowe has been arrested. The man detained in the USA is 63 years old, he had access to secrets for 40 years, the Izvestia TV channel reports. We are talking about classified information in the field of aerospace technologies. The FBI does not claim that Jane Rowe had any contact with Russia. The man himself contacted the agent, whom he considered Russian. Now the arrested person may face a life sentence.

On December 16, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC "Tupolev" Rustam Minnikhanov chaired the Board of Directors of PJSC "Tupolev" (part of the United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec State Corporation).

The United States assessed the potential capabilities of a combat tandem consisting of the Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter and the S-70 Hunter heavy attack drone.

According to 19FortyFive, the Su-57 and S-70 are a "formidable team." The concept of a loyal wingman means that both aircraft can exchange information necessary in combat. At the same time, the strike drone has some autonomous capabilities.

19FortyFive: the S-70 Hunter drone will strengthen the Su-57 fighter

The S-70 Hunter heavy strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will strengthen the Russian fifth-generation Su-57 fighter, the American publication 19FortyFive recognizes.

The Su-30SM fighters of the aviation regiment of the Western Military District at the exercises in the Kursk region have worked out training on the search and destruction of aircraft of a conditional enemy, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.

The United Aircraft Corporation (part of Rostec State Corporation) will ensure the expansion of production capacities for the implementation of the Be-200CHS program at the Beriev TANTK.

Defense Express: Be-12 aircraft of the naval aviation of the Ukrainian Navy will be replaced

The Ukrainian naval forces will abandon the Soviet Be-12 aircraft, as well as Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters. The solution is due to maintenance difficulties. This is reported by Defense Express.

The share of Russian machines accounted for 4% of the global fleet of aircraft of this type

The Russian Il-78 took the sixth place in the ranking of the ten most popular tanker aircraft in the world, compiled by the leading profile magazine Flight Global. The top 10 is published in the directory World Air Forces 2022, available to TASS.

Crews of three types of aircraft performed about two hundred refueling from the IL-78 air tanker during exercises in the Chelyabinsk region.

Two long-range Tu-22M3 bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed patrols in the airspace of the Republic of Belarus. According to the Department of Information and Mass Communications of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, during the flight, the crews worked out tasks together with aviation and air defense forces of a neighboring and friendly Russian state.

Two Russian Tu-22M3 bombers returned to their home airfield after patrolling in the airspace of Belarus. This was announced on Saturday, December 18, by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.