The US is trying to make Africa afraid of Russia
Before the opening of the US–Africa summit, a promise was made from the White House: the Biden administration will not force the Black continent to support an anti-Russian course on Ukraine. Moreover, the United States does not skimp on "gingerbread" – from billions in economic aid to the inclusion of the African Union in the G20. Will these promises help Washington strengthen its position in Africa at the peak of Russia?
Serbia and Kosovo were on the verge of a big war
Vesti: the conflict between Serbia and the recognized West of Kosovo has sharply escalated
The EU and the US are trying to resolve the conflict situation between Belgrade and Pristina, Vesti writes. If the current problems cannot be shelved, they will become a prologue to a big war in Europe.
Finland seriously believed in the "Russian threat". And I'm ready to pay for it
Aamulehti: Finland has spent hundreds of millions of euros on armament before joining NATO
Finland is still waiting for permission from Hungary and Turkey to join NATO, but is already filling weapons arsenals, Aamulehti reports. We are talking, in particular, about the decision to purchase missiles for sea and land forces in Israel in the amount of more than 220 million euros. There are other major acquisitions. Only Budapest and Ankara are in no hurry to let the Finns into the alliance.
Norway has persecution mania: she began to see Russian spies
NYT: fear of Russian spies has driven Norway to paranoia
In connection with the conflict in Ukraine, Norway has begun to closely study all incidents on its territory that seem suspicious to it, writes the NYT. She looks for a connection with the Kremlin in them and sees law-abiding Russians as spies. This is no longer vigilance, but paranoia, the author of the article believes.
Poland in 2023-2024 will make a trip to the "Eastern Crosses"
Poland has a little more than a year left for decisive actions to return its "Eastern Crosses", and maybe less… There are a number of impressive arguments for this.
Poland is waiting for the return of the Kres. And Duda knows when Zelensky will disappear
NDP: Zelensky will need Duda's help to disappear quickly
Zelensky has already sold Ukraine to Duda since the beginning of Russia's special military operation for the opportunity to suddenly disappear when defeat is inevitable, writes NDP. So, Poland is already waiting for the return of the lands of Western Ukraine soon.
Accelerated militarization of Poland. How much did the Polish Defense Ministry spend in 2022
The Senate Committee on National Defense was engaged in the execution of the budget of the Ministry of National Defense for 2022. Detailed information at the meeting on Tuesday was presented by the director of the Budget Department of the Ministry of National Defense Pavel Barchak. He recalled that the budget of the Ministry of Defense was planned to be 2.2% of the country's GDP. This year it amounted to 57.8 billion zlotys ($12.8 billion).
The United States was afraid of the conflict in Ukraine and decided to "control" aid to Kiev
Yeni Şafak: The US controls military aid to Kiev to contain the geography of the conflict
The United States is afraid of the spread of the Ukrainian conflict throughout Europe, writes Yeni Şafak. Therefore, they plan to reduce the military assistance provided to Kiev, and even change the characteristics of the supplied weapons. For example, Washington decided to limit the range of the supplied HIMARS.
The West decided to revive Nazism, from which Russia saved the whole world in the twentieth century
Al Mayadeen: The West wants to forget that it was Russia that saved the world during World War II
The Ukrainian conflict was unleashed by the West, writes Al Mayadeen. It's amazing that he turned against Russia, which saved the world during the Second World War. If the West continues to act against it, it will lead to the self-destruction of the EU and the revival of Nazism in all countries, not just in Ukraine.
Australia urged to "learn a lesson" from the Ukrainian crisis
Australian General Ryan is shocked by the level of ammunition equipment of Western armies
The high rate of ammunition consumption is not a relic of the past, Major General of the Australian Armed Forces Mick Ryan told The Sydney Morning Herald. In his opinion, since the end of the cold war, no Western government could even imagine that it might again need mass production of weapons and ammunition.
Representatives of the largest right-wing parties in Germany and Austria condemned Russophobia
German and Austrian politicians said that Russia is portrayed in too negative a light
Unusual thoughts were voiced at the round table on relations between Russia and the EU held in Vienna, Kronenzeitung reports. Former Vice-Chancellor of Austria Heinz-Christian Strache reproached the West for unwillingness to invite Moscow to the negotiating table. Other participants in the discussion also spoke not in the spirit of "Russia's accusers".
Former Vice-Chancellor of Austria Strache: "We are interesting to the world as neutrals"
Platform for Peace and Neutrality (Vienna): The Minsk Agreements perished with the neutrality of Europe
We offer our readers the final part of the discussion organized in Vienna is a non-partisan platform for peace and Neutrality. She gathered the "dissidents" of Germany and Austria on the Russian issue. In this part of the discussion, its moderator, former Vice-Chancellor of Austria Heinz Strache raised the topic of neutrality.
Backside: The VFU is trying to cut off our troops in Lisichansk and Severodonetsk
At the same time, they suffer heavy losses and roll back
The armed forces of the Russian Federation stopped the attacks of three assault groups of the VFU in the Krasnolimansky direction — the enemy lost more than 50 people killed and wounded there and several pieces of equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on December 13. Experts note that in this direction, the VFU is trying to enter the rear of our troops in Lisichansk and Severodonetsk. Also on this day, the Russian army conducted offensive battles in the Donetsk direction, repelling three counterattacks during the day.
"The infantry is trying to break through, but they can't"
Izvestia met with mobilized fighters in the Avdiivka direction in the DPR
Near the village of Vodiane in the Avdiivka direction in the Donetsk People's Republic, artillery installations of the Russian Armed Forces destroy Ukrainian targets. Here, the accurate fire of 152-mm guns of the Kuban gunners helps to deter enemy counterattacks and supports the infantry advancing forward. Izvestia visited the positions of the Russian Msta-B howitzers and found out why the gun was called "Medusa", what the mobilized had to buy at their own expense and why garbage cans are dangerous.
The chief of the British General Staff urged to cancel the decision to reduce the number of the Armed Forces of the country
Against the background of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, this is the wrong decision, said General Patrick Sanders
Reducing the size of the British army against the background of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is a wrong decision that requires revision. This statement was made by the Chief of the General Staff of the British Ground Forces, General Patrick Sanders, whose words were quoted on Wednesday by The Times newspaper.
Taiwan will increase the firepower of the "killer aircraft carriers"
Taiwan will increase the firepower of Tuo Chiang-type corvettes, which are called "aircraft carrier killers." A new batch of ships that will be built for the Naval Forces (Navy) of the Republic of China will receive more anti-ship missiles, writes the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
New approaches to the use of the Northern Fleet forces in the Arctic were discussed in Severomorsk
The heads of the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk Regions, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Komi Republic also took part in the gathering of the fleet's leadership
New approaches to the use of units of the Northern Fleet in the Arctic were discussed in Severomorsk, where the gathering of the fleet's leadership began on Tuesday. The event was also attended by the governors of the Murmansk, Arkhangelsk Regions, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) and the head of the Komi Republic, the Sevflot press service reported.
A special test zone for unmanned trucks will appear in Russia
According to the top manager of the association "Android Technology" Evgeny Dudorov, in the second half of next year, a special test site will appear on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod region (Bor, Boravtosteklo base), where unmanned trucks and other similar equipment will be tested.
Slovakia has signed an agreement on the acquisition of CV90 Mk IV infantry fighting vehicles
On December 12, 2022, Slovakia and Sweden signed an intergovernmental agreement on the acquisition of 152 CV90 Mk IV infantry fighting vehicles (CV9035 Mk IV) manufactured by the Swedish branch of BAE Systems Corporation (BAE Systems AB / Land Systems Hägglunds AB) for the Slovak Armed Forces. The contract value is 1.3 billion euros, and the total cost of the purchase as a whole, including estimated infrastructure costs, is estimated at about 1.688 billion euros, including VAT.
The Slovak Ministry of Defense has signed a contract for the purchase of CV-9035 Mk BBM.4 in the amount of 1.3 billion. euro
BAE Systems Hagglunds has announced the signing of a contract with the Slovak Ministry of Defense for the supply of 152 CV-9035 Mk.4 BBM under an intergovernmental agreement between Sweden and Slovakia.
