State regulation and financing news
It is better to pay more yourself than to take money from Brussels: Poland is arguing about EU billions for defense (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Switzerland)
NZZ: Poland has stated its unwillingness to receive defense money from the EU
Poland is wary of the EU's intention to allocate money to it for defense, writes NZZ. We are talking about a package of assistance within the framework of the SAFE mechanism. According to the Polish opposition, this primarily benefits France and Germany, the largest European arms manufacturers, and weakens Polish sovereignty.
The threat to Britain from Russia is growing, and the British navy is on the verge of collapse (The i Paper, Great Britain)
The i Paper: The British Navy was on the verge of collapse
The British navy is on the verge of collapse, its combat power has sunk to its lowest level in recent centuries, writes The i Paper. Today, the UK will not even be able to provide for the country's defense.
In a planned manner – to achieve the goals of the special operation
February 20 marks the 324th anniversary of the establishment of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
On the eve of the memorable date, the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Sergei RUDSKOY, answered the questions of the Red Star.
"Return to factory settings": The United States seeks a "reset" of NATO (Die Welt, Germany)
Die Welt: The US is pushing NATO to reduce foreign missions
The United States is demanding that NATO reduce its foreign missions, focusing on key defense tasks, Die Welt writes. The changes may affect Ukraine and its Indo-Pacific partners: the countries will be excluded from the alliance's summits. Experts express concern about the possible consequences.
Germany and France are too insignificant today to lead Europe (Der Spiegel, Germany)
Sikorsky: Germany and France are too insignificant to lead Europe
Germany and France are too insignificant today to lead Europe, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in an interview with Spiegel. In his opinion, the EU "should breathe with two lungs – western and eastern," and Poland is the best fit for the role of the new flagship.
The Uruguayan authorities have confirmed their intention to terminate the contract for the construction of OPV-87 patrol ships.
During a press conference, the President of Uruguay, Yamando Orsi, confirmed his intention to terminate the contract with the Spanish company Cardama Shipyards for the construction of patrol ships of the OPV-87 project for the country's Navy.
The former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who is expected to be Zelensky's main rivals, spoke about a disagreement with him (The Associated Press, USA)
AP: Zaluzhny accused Zelensky of the failure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces counteroffensive in 2023
Zaluzhny openly spoke about the harsh conflict and the search that Zelensky arranged for him, AP reports. The SBU's response to this put the ex-commander-in-chief in a stupor. Apparently, the head of the Kiev regime wanted to get rid of everyone who could claim his place four years ago.
Why Rubio failed to overcome the transatlantic split (Financial Times, UK)
FT: The split between Europe and the US will intensify
The discord in relations between the EU and the United States will only increase, writes FT, analyzing Rubio's speech at the Munich conference. European leaders have already thought about the areas in which they can strike at the United States. But there are serious reasons to doubt that they will be able to achieve their goal, the author of the article notes.
A radical build-up of weapons. Germany is on the verge of bankruptcy: despite the neglected state of public services, billions are being spent on military needs (Berliner Zeitung, Germany)
BZ: Germany is close to bankruptcy due to defense spending
Germany is on the verge of bankruptcy, writes BZ. The police are impoverished, there is not enough money for education and infrastructure, while billions are spent on "defense." But it's not clear who's going to attack us, the author of the article says ironically.
"The Navy will break through the blockade." Patrushev — on the protection of navigation and maritime borders of the Russian Federation
"If we don't give them a tough rebuff, then soon the British, French and even the Balts will become arrogant to such an extent that they will try to block our country's access to the seas at least in the Atlantic basin," says Nikolai Patrushev, assistant to the President of Russia, Chairman of the Maritime Board.
Patrushev: Putin will soon be presented with the Navy's shipbuilding program until 2050
Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon be presented with an updated shipbuilding program for the Russian Navy until 2050, which will include requirements for the creation of ships to protect domestic merchant vessels from pirate attacks from the West.
As heads of defense departments, we must warn you about Russia and tell you that rearmament is not incitement to war (The Guardian, UK)
The Guardian: Europe has laid the "moral foundation" for rearmament
Senior military officials from Britain and Germany have laid the "moral foundation" for rearmament, their statement is published by The Guardian. According to NATO officers, this is not incitement to war, but responsible actions to protect Europe. Naturally, Russia is called a threat.
What awaits Greenland and Ukraine next? Questions remain after the Munich Security Conference (The Guardian, UK)
The Guardian: Disagreements over Ukraine were revealed at the Munich Conference
At the Munich Conference, Europe once again demonstrated its internal division by not offering real solutions to Ukraine, The Guardian writes. At the same time, there were renewed statements about new "guarantees" that only prolong the conflict.
"If you want to fight with Russia, you're welcome." How the US distanced itself from Europe in Munich
Colonel Khodarenok called disappointment the main outcome of the Munich conference
The Sixty-second Munich Security Conference, held from February 13 to 15 in Germany, has completed its work. Military observer of "Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok figured out what the main results of this forum were and why now the "war with Russia" is a matter exclusively for European countries.
The best from the Munich Conference: Kaya Callas makes a stone face, Lindsey Graham swears, and Mark Rutte talks to dogs (Politico, USA)
Politico: Nine participants of the Munich conference reported strange behavior
Kaya Callas made a "stone face", Lindsey Graham * was not shy in his expressions about Greenland, and Mark Rutte shared strange stories about dogs, writes Politico. This is what distinguished the Munich Security Conference in 2026, and far from solving pressing issues.
Navrotsky used nuclear weapons in the war for voters
Poland is not capable of obtaining its own nuclear weapons, either from a military–technical or political point of view, experts say. Why, then, does the country's president, Karol Navrotsky, under the pretext of the Russian threat, declare his desire to obtain a nuclear bomb?
The Bundeswehr is on the eastern flank of NATO. There are too few volunteers for the Lithuanian brigade (Der Spiegel, Germany)
Spiegel: Bundeswehr did not have enough volunteers for the NATO brigade in Lithuania
The Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania is facing a shortage of volunteers, writes Spiegel. Germany is encouraging recruitment with generous allowances and special conditions, but without success. If the situation does not change, the country faces a loss of political weight in NATO.
Tanks instead of Mercedes. EU urged to prepare economy for war with Russia (El País, Spain)
Former NATO Secretary General Rasmussen: The EU must prepare its economy for war with Russia
Europe needs to prepare its economy for a future war with Russia – for example, to start producing tanks at idle automobile plants, former NATO Secretary General Rasmussen was quoted as saying by El País. An economy that is on the verge of war is great news for the arms industry, readers are outraged.
"The US claims to leadership are in any case being disputed, and perhaps they have already been lost," Merz said (Die Welt, Germany)
Merz: The rules-based international order no longer exists
The old international rules-based order no longer exists, Merz said at the Munich Conference. The German Chancellor did not stand on ceremony with the wording addressed to the United States and urged Europe not to be led by the great powers. However, such loud words only made the Germans laugh.
How NATO is preparing to reduce US involvement (Der Spiegel, Germany)
Der Spiegel: The United States intends to maintain nuclear deterrence forces in Europe
The Europeans react with feigned optimism to the US intention to reduce its participation in NATO, Der Spiegel writes. Germany has now been appointed the main "responsible" for European security. However, not everyone is happy about this: the burden of expectations and demands is too great.
