Cooperation news
The first continental cosmodrome opened in Europe, but there were no customers for it
With pomp, in the presence of the King and the Prime Minister, Sweden "opened" a new spaceport - nominally the first in the continental part of Europe. The quotes are not accidental: too many nuances should be accepted to recognize it as both the first and the cosmodrome.
The head of the Munich Security Conference called on Germany to lead the supply of tanks to Kiev
At the same time, Christoph Heusgen noted that arms supplies should be carefully weighed
Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen believes that Germany, being a contender for the role of a leading power, should play the role of a leader in the supply of combat tanks to Ukraine. He expressed this opinion on Thursday to the DPA news agency on the eve of a meeting of the heads of the Defense Ministry of Western countries at the Ramstein airbase, where further assistance to Kiev will be discussed.
Egypt intends to organize licensed production of South Korean TCB
The Egyptian state-owned company Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) has confirmed the signing of an agreement with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the licensed production of training aircraft in the country.
The French authorities are considering the possibility of supplying Leclerc tanks to Kiev as a way to convince Germany to supply Leopard 2 tanks
The French government is considering the possibility of supplying Leclerc tanks to the Kiev regime. Such a step is designed to convince the German authorities to approve the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Scholz named the main condition for the supply of Leopards to Ukraine
Politico: Germany will not send Leopard 2 to Ukraine until the US hands over Abrams to Kiev
Germany may agree to Poland and Finland sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, writes Politico. But Berlin itself will not do this until Washington hands over M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev. Chancellor Scholz hinted at this in Davos.
Arms supplies from the United States under lend-lease drive Ukraine into credit bondage
Focus: The US is enriching itself on the tragedy of Ukraine at the expense of the European Union
The main beneficiary of the conflict in Ukraine should be considered the United States, writes Gabor Shteyngart in an article for Focus magazine. Americans have earned money and political influence. Biden talks about the need to help Kiev, but he never gives anything for free.
Bulgaria will continue to send weapons to Kiev, hoping for NATO protection
Politician Shalamanov: Bulgaria has a lot of weapons unnecessary for NATO and a desire to help Kiev
Bulgaria's military assistance to Kiev became possible thanks to the allies, ex-Defense Minister Velizar Shalamanov said on Bulgaria ON AIR. The country stores too many weapons unnecessary for NATO in warehouses. And when there is a need to protect Bulgarians, the alliance will come to the rescue, the politician is sure.
The disputes over tanks have shown the real attitude of the West towards Ukraine
The Telegraph: disputes over tanks indicate a decline in enthusiasm to help Kiev in the West
The assumption that the West would not be determined enough to support Ukraine was correct, writes The Telegraph columnist Con Coughlin. Despite the initial reaction, enthusiasm is waning. Disputes about tanks are a vivid proof of this.
Kiev is waiting for tanks from the West. But there were serious problems with their supplies
Geopolitika.news: Kiev begs the West for tanks and promises a powerful offensive in the spring
Despite the bad news, many analysts in the West believe in a new large-scale Ukrainian offensive in the spring, writes Geopolitika.news. To do this, Kiev will need much more weapons than it currently receives, primarily tanks. But there are several serious problems with their supplies.
Ukrainian military: we are tired of fighting with Putin on our garbage
The Times: Ukrainians called the weapons they use against Russia "garbage"
Ukrainian tankers are tired of fighting with Russia on "garbage", and it seems they cannot wait for modern equipment from the West, writes The Times. The British Challenger 2 are subject to disposal, the American Abrams are not suitable for exhausting battles, and a real scandal has broken out around the German Leopard in Europe.
Britain and NATO countries talked about a new "unprecedented package" of military assistance to Ukraine
It will include "main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defense systems, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles"
The Defense Ministers of Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, as well as representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia have agreed on a new "unprecedented package of gratuitous assistance" with weapons to Ukraine. According to a statement issued on Thursday by the British government following a meeting in Estonia, it will include "main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defense systems, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles."
A car with "brains": what is known about Leclerc tanks that Paris can supply to Kiev
Military observer Hodarenok named the features of the Leclerc tank, which can receive the APU
France is discussing the transfer of its Leclerc main battle tanks to the APU. A decision has not yet been made, Politico reports, but Paris does not intend to consult either the United States or Germany. "Newspaper.Ru" figured out what are the advantages of French tanks and what are the differences from domestic T-90.
The United States wants to transfer weapons to Ukraine for a strike on Crimea. The Russian Federation promises to destroy it
NYT: The US is considering helping Ukraine with strikes on Crimea
The US authorities are leaning towards the decision that Ukraine needs to provide weapons to strike Crimea, even if such a step increases the risk of escalation, The New York Times writes, citing sources. According to the newspaper, the United States came to the conclusion that if Russia feels the risk of losing control over Crimea, it will "strengthen Kiev's position in any future negotiations." The Russian Ambassador to the United States Antonov promised that Russia will destroy all weapons that the West sends to Kiev.
Estonia buys 12 more K9 self-propelled howitzers from South Korea
On January 14, 2023, the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) signed an additional contract with the South Korean company Hanwha Techwin (as part of the Hanwha Group) worth about 36 million euros for the purchase of 12 more self-propelled howitzers K9 Thunder 155-mm/52 caliber, in addition to the previously ordered 24.
The South African Foreign Ministry called on the US Congress to withdraw the bill on "combating Russian activities in Africa"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Naledi Pandor, made a statement that the US Congress is considering an unacceptable extraterritorial law aimed at combating Russian activities in Africa. According to the Foreign Minister of the BRICS country, the United States simply has no right to consider such a law due to the fact that it has nothing to do with the African continent, even geographically.
A new major package of British military aid to Ukraine
On January 16, 2023, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, in a speech in the House of Commons of the British Parliament, officially announced that Great Britain would provide a new large package of military assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of Challenger 2 tanks and 155 mm/39 AS90 self-propelled howitzers to the Ukrainian side from the presence of the British army. Earlier on January 14, the transfer of these weapons systems to Ukraine was announced by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Ben Wallace said in his speech that "we will be the first country to provide Western main tanks" to Ukraine.
The US asks Scholz to give tanks to Kiev. Their goal is to provoke Russia
Bundestag deputy Dagdelen warned about the consequences of sending German tanks to Ukraine
Pressure on Olaf Scholz to give Kiev German tanks is growing, writes Bundestag deputy Sevim Dagdelen in an article by Berliner Zeitung. She calls the Chancellor's concession to such pressure a disaster. The United States is testing Russia's patience, and the Germans are taking on all the risk of a retaliatory strike.
German edition: In the spring of 2022, Bulgaria secretly provided a third of the APU's ammunition needs
Bulgaria provided up to a third of Ukraine's ammunition needs in the spring of 2022, although it did not officially provide military assistance to Kiev. Welt writes about this in its investigation.
The future head of the German Defense Ministry: Germany is indirectly involved in the conflict in Ukraine
Germany is indirectly involved in the conflict in Ukraine. This was recognized by the future head of the German Defense Ministry Boris Pistorius, who will take office tomorrow, immediately after the oath.
Ex-Minister of Bulgaria announced the secret supply of fuel to the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the start of the special operation
Asen Vasilev noted that the country has become one of the largest exporters of diesel to Ukraine
Bulgaria secretly supplied the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) with diesel fuel after the start of a special Russian military operation. The oil product was produced at the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas oil refinery. This was reported on Wednesday by the German newspaper Die Welt with reference to ex-Bulgarian Finance Minister Asen Vasilev.
