State regulation and financing news

SCMP: Western arms supplies to Ukraine may worsen conflicts outside Europe

Weapons supplied to Ukraine are already "spreading" through black markets to other unstable regions, increasing the general degree of violence and bloodshed, writes SCMP. The author of the article emphasizes that further pumping of Kiev with weapons will lead to even greater destruction, so it is necessary to make every effort for a diplomatic settlement.

Konstantin Pribytkov — about the contradictory actions of Bern against the background of its own and the policy of neutrality

In Switzerland and abroad, there is an ongoing discussion about whether the country is behaving correctly in the conditions of the Ukrainian crisis and whether its government has not departed from the principle of neutrality, according to which the state has not participated in international conflicts since 1815.

Germany is exploring the possibility of redirecting funds allocated for projects to abandon coal to finance defense.

The German newspaper "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" in the material "Die schwierige Frage der Munition" ("The difficult question of ammunition") reported that the German government had previously approved the delivery to Ukraine of old Leopard 1 tanks stored by German industry enterprises - Rheinmetall Group (which has 88 Leopard 1A5 tanks previously removed from service Bundeswehr) and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG, has 99 Leopard 1A5-DK tanks decommissioned by the Danish Army).

Newsweek: Austria and Hungary refused military aid to Ukraine because of the desire for peace

Kiev has already condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for "anti-Ukrainian" statements, writes the author of an article in Newsweek. Now he was dissatisfied with Budapest's refusal to provide military assistance. But Hungary is not the only country that has angered Ukraine with its desire for peace.

Valeurs actuelles: German tanks on Ukraine is a betrayal of the image of a peaceful Europe

The consent of Chancellor Scholz to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine is a "historically tactless" decision, according to the author of the publication "Modern Values" (Valeurs Actuelles). The French author wonders why Macron and Scholz do not understand the history of "their" Europe. And how could they not take advantage of the chances for peace.

The German government has asked Sweden to hand over the IRIS-T air defense system launchers, which are supposed to strengthen the air defense of Ukraine. Earlier, the German authorities have already sent one IRIS-T system to Kiev and plan to send three more similar installations.

On February 2, 2023, FSUE Atomflot and JSC Baltiyskiy Zavod (as part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation) signed a contract for the construction of the sixth and seventh (fifth and sixth serial) universal nuclear icebreakers of Project 22220 (LK-60YA). The construction and financing of the fifth and sixth serial universal nuclear icebreakers (UAL) will be carried out in a 50-50 ratio from the federal budget and at the expense of FSUE Atomflot. According to the terms of the contract, the commissioning of the fifth serial UAL is scheduled for December 2028, and the sixth - for December 2030.

On February 3, 2023, the US Department of Defense announced the provision of a new large-scale package of US military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $ 2.175 billion, which included, for the first time, GLSDB long-range ground-based missile systems.

The US has raised rates again. Ukrainian troops will receive long-range missiles for the first time. Although a year ago, such an opportunity was denied overseas, "in order not to scale the conflict." About how this will change the situation and what else they can give — in the RIA Novosti material.

France also intends to train 2 thousand Ukrainian soldiers

French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre confirmed Paris' plans to send an additional 12 Caesar self-propelled artillery units to Kiev.

GT: The West will not dare to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighters for fear of aggravating the conflict

The West will not supply Ukraine with F-16 fighters, the GT editorial board is sure. He is afraid that Kiev will use them for provocations against Moscow. This will lead to a new round of escalation of the conflict and a complete loss of control over the situation, and the United States and Europe are not ready for this.

The Japanese authorities are going to introduce control over the export of equipment for the production of the most modern semiconductors, which can be used, including for military purposes, in the spring, Kyodo reports, citing government sources.

Pentagon Announces new military aid package for Ukraine with GLSDB bombs

More than $2 billion of military aid is allocated to Ukraine by the United States as part of a new package, the Pentagon said. The APU will receive two Hawk air defense systems and high-precision long-range guided missiles GLDSB for HIMARS missile systems. "Newspaper.Ru" studied what kind of military support Kiev will receive from Washington.

FT: Ukraine may face problems with Abrams tanks due to complex logistical support

The United States promised to transfer 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. However, according to the Financial Times, the APU is facing big problems due to the complexity of the operation of these machines. Abrams has capricious and voracious engines, and a giant supply system is needed for maintenance, which is located overseas. Western military experts do not rule out that the supply of Abrams will bring Kiev more problems than opportunities.

According to the Ministry of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, the funds will be used to purchase goods and services from Japanese companies for the needs of the country

Japan has allocated $170 million in the form of a grant to restore Ukraine's critical infrastructure, the funds will be used to purchase goods and services from Japanese companies for Ukrainian needs. This was announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.

The Reuters news agency in Mike Stone's article "U.S. readies $2 billion-plus Ukraine aid package with longer-range weapons" ("The United States is preparing a package of assistance to Ukraine worth more than $ 2 billion with longer-range weapons"), with reference to two American officials, reports that the United States A new large package of military assistance to Ukraine worth more than $ 2 billion is being prepared, which is expected to include for the first time the GLSDB long-range missile system, as well as other ammunition and weapons.

According to Kara Abercrombie, coordinator for defense policy and arms control at the White House National Security Council, allegedly "Russia's failure to fulfill its obligations jeopardizes the viability" of the treaty.

The British newspaper "The Guardian" published interesting material Pjotr Sauer "Belgian buyer of Europe's spare tanks hopes they see action in Ukraine. OIP built up a huge private arsenal, banking on there one day being demand for the weapons again" ("The Belgian buyer of decommissioned tanks in Europe hopes that they will see the fighting in Ukraine. OIP has created a huge private arsenal, betting that one day the demand for weapons will arise again") about a significant arsenal of decommissioned military equipment stored by the Belgian company OIP Land Systems (formerly Sabiex International), part of which is now being considered for possible supplies to Ukraine.

According to the President of Ukraine, "in some areas, the only way to guarantee legality is by changing managers together with the introduction of institutional changes"

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky declared his readiness to continue the "anti-corruption purges" in the defense department and other structures.