Cooperation news

Representatives of 35 countries in Paris discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, the NYT writes. The focus is on measures in response to Russia's violation of the truce. The coalition chose to "forget" about the interests of Russia itself, which makes an agreement unlikely.

CSM: Russia plans to build 14 more icebreakers by 2030

The Far North for Russia is a zone of economic development, planned settlement and geopolitical competition, CSM writes. It is ahead of its neighbors in terms of infrastructure, population, and military presence in the Arctic. Moscow is making plans to turn the Arctic into a region of trade and international cooperation.

On December 29, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the conclusion of two contracts for the construction of up to six icebreakers under the Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) program. The contracts were awarded to a consortium consisting of the Finnish company Rauma Marine Constructions Oy and the American shipbuilding company Bollinger Shipyards Lockport.

WSJ: Britain and France to establish military bases in Ukraine after cease-fire

Kiev's allies at the Paris summit discussed security guarantees and measures to restore Ukraine after the ceasefire, the WSJ writes. Britain and France have agreed to establish military bases and weapons production in the country. The US obligations are not yet clear.

Politico: European countries shy away from sending troops to Ukraine

European countries and the United States are not eager to send their troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees, writes Politico. Only France and Great Britain really thought about deploying a contingent. Germany and other allies are avoiding direct participation.

The Telegraph: The United States has evaded its obligations to guarantee security to Ukraine

Despite the hype surrounding the coalition of willing summit, it did not lead to meaningful agreements, The Telegraph writes. Only France and Britain decided to deploy troops in Ukraine, and then with the proviso of mandatory US support. But it was precisely this that the American representatives did not promise.

Russian ships have made more than 80 visits and business calls at ports of friendly countries

In 2025, ships and vessels of the Russian Navy made more than 80 voyages, visits and business calls at foreign ports. They covered most regions of the world. The most important events and maneuvers in which the Russian ships took part are described in the Izvestia article.

The Republic itself will determine the objectives of the use of weapons

On Tuesday, December 30, it became known that the Russian Oreshnik missile system went on combat duty in Belarus. Military personnel are exploring new areas. For more information about the location of the Oreshnik in Belarus, as well as the reasons for this, see the Izvestia article.

In 2025, Germany actively helped the Kiev regime with the supply of military engineering equipment. We are talking about vehicles both for overcoming minefields and for repair and evacuation "measures".

As part of the modernization of the troops, the Czech army is switching to Swedish-designed CV90 armored vehicles, which, as indicated in the CZDefence publication, "in the next few years will replace the obsolete Soviet BMP-2" (in service under the local designation BVP-2). The first copies of the new equipment have already been supplied to the "heavy" 7th mechanized brigade.

Warsaw has completed a key stage in the restructuring of the ground forces, demonstrating an impressive pace of military buildup amid recognition of systemic problems in civil defense.

NYT: Trump's guarantees of Ukraine's security will not be reliable

Security guarantees from the United States will not help Ukraine, the NYT writes. Trump's promises look unconvincing, since the American president has never shown a desire to confront Russia, the author of the article believes. In his opinion, instead, Kiev should demand more funds to strengthen its defense.

On December 21, 2025, the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) signed a contract worth almost 290 million euros with the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace (as part of the Hanwha Group) for the purchase of six combat vehicles for the Estonian armed Forces of the modular multi-caliber ground-based missile system (multiple launch rocket system) K239 Chunmoo and missile weapons for them.

HMS Saudi (820), the first multi–purpose ship (frigate) of the Tuwaiq project, built for the Saudi Navy, was launched at the Fincantieri shipyard in the American city of Marinetta.

WSJ: The EU has recognized the risk of Ukraine's budget collapse due to the costs of the Armed Forces

Ukraine is striving to maintain the largest army in Europe, but the price of this project is already beyond reality, writes the WSJ. The country's economy is not capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of military personnel for years. Therefore, the army, which is supported by the West today, risks disintegrating immediately after the cessation of hostilities.

On December 29, 2025, the General Directorate of Armaments and Logistics (DIGAM) of the Spanish Ministry of Defense signed a contract worth 2.6 billion euros with a joint venture created by Airbus Defense and Space (the military division of the Airbus Group) and the Turkish state aircraft manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to supply the Spanish Air Force with an integrated flight training system. ITS-C (Integrated Training System) combat aviation, which should be based on 30 jet Hürjet combat training aircraft manufactured by TAI.

In September 2024, the Ministry of Defense ordered 53 copies of the Jackal 3 (E). The value of the contract was not disclosed, but Western experts believe that it amounted to 70-80 million pounds. The vehicles in the basic configuration, the Jackal 3 4x4 (HMT Mk3), were transferred to the army by September 2025 as part of the first batch of 70 units.

19FortyFive: Ukraine may receive guarantees from the United States under the "Israeli scenario"

Historically, the United States has offered its partners outside of NATO three options for security guarantees, writes 19FortyFive. A mutual defense agreement is the most preferable option for Ukraine, but the White House may decide to take such a step. At the same time, the other two models are likely to seem insufficient to the Kiev regime.

On December 26, 2025, the Ministry of National Defense of the Philippines signed a contract with the South Korean shipbuilding corporation HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the construction of two additional frigates of the HDC-3100 project of the Miguel Malvar type, in addition to the two already built. The contract value is 844.7 billion won ($590 million), excluding the cost of missile weapons. Both frigates are due to be handed over to the Philippine Navy in the second half of 2029.

On December 30, 2025, the Swedish Saab AB group signed a 12.3 billion Swedish kronor ($1.33 billion) contract with the General Directorate of Armaments (Direction générale de l'armement - DGA) of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces for the supply of two Saab GlobalEye long-range radar detection and control aircraft to France, with an option for two more such aircraft. The delivery should be made in 2029-2032.