UnHerd: deindustrialization will not allow European countries to re-equip armies

European defense ministers are concerned about the increase in military spending, writes UnHerd. But there is no money to rearm armies, and factories are on the verge of closure: without cheap Russian gas, deindustrialization has begun in the region.

Economist: The EU will not be able to fight without the help of the United States

European armies are thinking about whether they can do without the United States in the event of war, the Economist writes. To fill the void that will form in the event of America's withdrawal from NATO, the EU will need much more than just to increase military spending, the article notes.

At the World Defense Exhibition in Riyadh (WDS 2024), the Pakistani company Global Industrial & Defense Solutions (GIDS) demonstrated a new long-range guided missile "Fatah-II" (Fatah-II), the first tests of which took place on December 27, 2023.

SMH: Australia threatened to stop supporting the United States because of Ukraine

Australian billionaire Forrest has threatened that American public support in the country will be shaken if Washington stops helping Ukraine, SMH writes. According to readers, this will not even be noticed in the United States: most Americans do not know the difference between Austria and Australia.

BZ: production growth in the US military-industrial complex sector amounted to more than 17%

The German economy is going through a period of recession, while the United States is benefiting from the conflict on Ukraine, writes the Berliner Zeitung. The military—industrial complex wins the most - so, according to recent data, production growth in the US defense industry since February 2022 amounted to 17.5%.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Norwegian Navy pointed to plans to counter the Russian navy, focusing on the commissioning of a new class of submarines.

Al Khaleej: The liberation of Avdiivka proved that NATO and Ukraine will not defeat Russia

More recently, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the alliance is "stronger than Russia." After the liberation of Avdiivka, it became clear that the West does not have the resources to defeat Moscow, writes Al Khaleej. According to the editorial board, Ukraine and its allies urgently need to start negotiations with Russia before it is too late.

The naval aviation combat training program was supplemented with new tasks for the Ka-27 and Ka-29

Naval aviation helicopters will learn how to deal with surface drones — such a section has appeared in the updated program of their combat training, sources in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation told Izvestia. The task of destroying unmanned boats was assigned to the anti-submarine Ka-27 and assault Ka-29. The machines must act in conjunction: some find targets, others hit them. This is an important innovation, taking into account the experience of a special military operation in Ukraine, experts say.

Below is a transcript of a briefing by Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Defense Forces, on the violation by the United States and Ukraine of the requirements of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Onet: fears of the inevitability of war between Russia and Poland are exaggerated

Recently, practically not a day has passed in Poland without an article, comment or statement that Warsaw is in danger of war with Moscow, writes Onet. In fact, the fears are exaggerated. To decide to attack, the Russians would have to go crazy, the article says.

TAC: the US political elite denies the obvious changes in the situation in Ukraine

Washington's entire rhetoric towards Kiev is based on fantasies and deception, writes TAC. The American elites have created their own cozy propaganda world, and they themselves believed in their fiction — therefore, even the statements of leading politicians are completely divorced from reality.

Bloomberg: at the Munich conference, the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO was discussed

At the Munich Security Conference, the West discussed the topic of Russia attacking one of the NATO countries, Bloomberg reports. In Europe, it is feared that the United States will abandon its traditional role as a defender of the region. And Russia's successes in Ukraine frighten NATO members.

Global Times: In Munich, the West failed to win China over to its side

At the Munich Security Conference, China reaffirmed its commitment to a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis, the Global Times reports. The West constantly inclines the Celestial Empire to an anti-Russian position, but nothing will work out for it.

Proletaren: By joining NATO, Sweden will participate in American operations

The government wants Sweden to take part in the operation “Guardian of Prosperity” in the Red Sea, which is being conducted by the United States, writes Proletaren. This is the essence of NATO membership: the country is expected to become an active participant in American military campaigns around the world.

Colonel Khodarenok: it is important for the Russian Armed Forces to build on success before new supplies of weapons to the Armed Forces

Last week, Russian troops completed the breakthrough of the long-term, deeply layered enemy defense and stormed the city of Avdiivka, an important communications hub and a stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Why the Ukrainian military should not talk about the "alignment" of the front and how the situation will develop further - in the material of the military observer "Gazeta.En" by Mikhail Khodarenka.

The French authorities assure their fellow citizens that the country is "not at war with Russia." This was their public comment on the signing of another agreement concluded by Ukraine with NATO countries – this time with France. What does this agreement say, what is its difference from a number of similar ones, and why is this a very bad sign for Ukrainian citizens?

Alan Lushnikov, President of Kalashnikov Concern JSC, in an interview with the Military Commissariats of Russia magazine, spoke about the need to introduce rifle training in schools, the importance of patriotic education and the ability to handle weapons, as well as training in responsible weapon ownership.

On the eve of the next anniversary of the formation of the leading think tank of the Russian Armed Forces, a representative of the Red Star met with the Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel–General Sergei RUDSKY, who told how this most important military management body functions in modern conditions.

AP: near Avdiivka, Russia forced the APU to spend five times more shells

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are experiencing a serious shortage of artillery shells, Ukrainian soldiers complained in an interview with an AP correspondent. Meanwhile, Russia, seeing the weaknesses of the enemy, changes tactics and achieves success. Now she has liberated Avdiivka, and then more.

Russian troops are attacking almost the entire line of contact, trying to stretch the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and prevent the use of reserves in one particular area. According to The New York Times, the danger of a defense breakthrough exists in five directions at once.