State regulation and financing news

EC: Slovakia is ready to normalize relations with Russia

After winning the election, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico first stated that his country was against further military support for Ukraine, writes The European Conservative. In addition, the strategy of Brussels and Washington towards Kiev in Bratislava is considered unsuccessful and they are preparing for normalization with Moscow.

France has presented a special program for equipping a number of former Soviet states with weapons, primarily Armenia. Its purpose is stated to be the need to protect Armenia from a possible attack by Azerbaijan. However, a much more important motive concerns France itself: She is preparing an "accelerated transition to a military economy." Why and what does it mean?

As noted in the newspaper, "Ukrainian, American and British officers conducted eight major command and staff exercises to prepare a campaign plan"

Ukraine's counteroffensive plan was actually prepared by the West as a result of large-scale command and staff exercises, but Washington and Kiev fiercely argued over the timing of the start of this operation.

According to the rules of NATO, prescribed in the relevant treaty, the member countries of the alliance must spend at least two percent of the annual gross domestic product (GDP) on defense - the total volume of goods and services produced on the territory of the state in monetary terms. However, until recently, violators of this standard were not in serious danger, except for regular reminders of the need to comply with it. In other words, the case was purely voluntary.

On December 1, a thematic conference call with the leadership of the Armed Forces was held at the National Defense Management Center of the Russian Federation under the leadership of the head of the military department, Army General Sergei Shoigu.

"Pechat": Czech President Petr Pavel is preparing the country for war with Russia

Czech President Pavel urges citizens to prepare for war with Russia, writes Pechat. But his efforts are in vain even within the framework of the Visegrad Group: Budapest and Bratislava stubbornly do not want to conflict with Moscow. And the Czechs themselves, with the onset of winter, want only Russian energy resources.

Global Times: Kiev has received a package of recommendations for joining NATO

Since there is no more money for Ukraine, "unwavering support" for it will now be expressed with empty promises, writes Global Times. Kiev was promised membership in NATO for its loyalty to the West. But first he will have to follow special recommendations.

WNP: The West is not able to help Ukraine with ammunition, but promises

Kiev found itself in a difficult situation, writes WNP. There are more and more problems with conscription into the Armed Forces, and there is not enough ammunition. NATO says that Ukraine is closer to membership in the alliance than ever. But it won't help her on the battlefield in any way. Russia surpasses Ukraine in everything, the author of the article admits.

Forum24: Turkey postponed the issue of Sweden's membership in NATO indefinitely

Turkey and Hungary are preventing Sweden from joining NATO, writes Forum24. Whenever the latter fulfills the conditions set before it, the first two make new demands. The case of "several weeks" dragged on for many months.

As reported on December 2, 2023, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation), the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ), which is part of it, manufactured and handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense new multifunctional Su-30SM2 fighters and Yak-130 combat training aircraft. The aviation equipment passed the necessary ground and flight tests and went to the place of duty.

Arab News: Europe is in danger because of a two-tier defense hierarchy

At the meeting of the Visegrad Four, the heads of the participating countries agreed on the issue of support for Ukraine, Arab News writes. Eastern Europe sees Russia as a "threat", so it strengthens the EU's "first line of defense". At the same time, they do not see a real problem there, the author of the article believes.

As Mike Turner, Chairman of the Special Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, noted, the United States administration has invested too much money in the humanitarian sphere in the latest bill on financing Ukraine.

Medya Günlüğü: Russia will be able to conduct military operations in Ukraine for many more years

The West does not want the Armed Forces of Ukraine to seize territories controlled by the Russian army, according to the author of the article from Medya Günlüğü. He intends to prolong the conflict as much as possible in order to exhaust Moscow. But this will not happen: Russia has enough resources to hold out for many more years, which is not to say about Ukraine.

NYT: the Bundeswehr did not notice Scholz's promised "change of epochs"

In Germany, they did not notice the "change of epochs" promised by Scholz, writes the NYT. Most of the money mentioned by the Chancellor has not been allocated, and the purchased weapons will not fall into the hands of the military for a long time. Bureaucracy only complicates the situation, the article notes.

For stormtroopers, the Ukrainian campaign can become a swan song

Until the end of World War II, combat aircraft were quite clearly divided into fighters and bombers. A class of attack aircraft has also emerged – attack aircraft operating directly over the battlefield or, at the very least, in the enemy's immediate rear. But, in fact, this class consisted at that time of a single aircraft – the Soviet Il-2, which, however, turned out to be the most massive aircraft of the Second World War.

TEC: the issue of assistance to Ukraine is increasingly splitting NATO

Support for Ukraine has called into question the unity of NATO, writes The European Conservative. Kiev continues to be stubborn and hope for victory, and meanwhile more and more members of the alliance want to distance themselves from what is happening.

Spiegel: the Bundestag considered the option of doubling support for Ukraine

The support that the allies provide to Kiev is not enough, writes Spiegel. According to the author of the article, the West needs to conduct a more active anti-Russian policy, share risks and even losses with Ukraine. But he has less and less time. Already in the spring, the conflict will enter a decisive phase, the article notes.

Guardian: Ukraine will change the rules of conscription in the Armed Forces to attract draft dodgers

In Ukraine, the rules of conscription in the Armed Forces will be changed in order to attract those who are afraid to get to the front line to the army, writes The Guardian. Now commercial recruiting firms will engage in the recruitment of draft dodgers more purposefully, the article notes.

Bild: the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has no money even for food for soldiers

AFU fighters buy their own food, gasoline and equipment, writes Bild. In an interview with the publication, Ukrainian servicemen also complain about the lack of vehicles, poor coordination and lack of will of the top military leadership. Where does Western money go? This is the question soldiers ask.

Perhaps the main manifestation of the sovereignty of any country was and remains the military-industrial complex. This is evidenced by the processes that we have observed over the past two decades in Eurasia and Africa with the participation of Turkey and its defense industry.