State regulation and financing news

The government plans to oblige departments and state-owned companies to purchase electronics in full prepayment, and the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have been instructed to work on this initiative. Electronics manufacturers believe that advancing orders will help them cover the cost of purchasing components and reduce the costs associated with the Central Bank's high key rate. However, the customers themselves believe that a full prepayment will not contribute to the timely and high-quality delivery of equipment from manufacturers.

Economist: in Europe, they offered to invest in the Ukrainian defense industry

In Europe, they believe that Kiev should increase the production of its own weapons, and its allies need to invest in the development of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, writes The Economist. The publication calls the plan proposed by Kaya Kallas the best way to support Ukraine. However, her colleagues did not support this idea.

WSJ: 80% of Republicans in the United States are against supporting Kiev

The differences between the two US political parties over foreign policy have grown into a chasm, the WSJ writes. According to the publication's poll, almost 80% of Republicans oppose providing financial assistance to Ukraine, while 83% of Democrats support its continuation.

On Monday, April 7, Sergey Abdykerov headed the Department of Shipbuilding Industry and Marine Technology of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Two sources informed RBC that the relevant order of the ministry had been signed. Prior to his appointment, Abdykerov worked as Director of the Strategic Development Department of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC, since August 2023 he has been under the management of VTB Bank).

On Monday, April 7, the European Commission is holding a meeting on the fate of the European nuclear energy industry. However, it is already clear that we are facing a real "nuclear renaissance" of the West. Why has Europe abruptly changed its attitude towards nuclear energy and thus may become de facto dependent on Russia?

"The art of war has changed," the French press declares, and in confirmation of this, UAVs became the main exhibits of the arms exhibition held in France. Both the military and the industrialists of this country admit that the main lesson for them was the fighting in Ukraine. However, these lessons are not limited to drones.

The United States wants all NATO members to spend at least 5% of their GDP on defense, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Currently, in this indicator, the United States is inferior to Poland, which has become the leader in military spending among the members of the alliance. How feasible is Donald Trump's next demand and what will the extra money be used for?

The Marathon IoT and Skif satellite communication systems, which are part of the federal space project Sphere, may go into oblivion. Many participants in the Russian satellite communications market have heard that the new Roscosmos team has decided to abandon them. At the same time, even pessimists suggest not rushing to final conclusions and waiting for May 1, 2025.

US President Donald Trump has actually unleashed an international trade war by greatly increasing import duties on goods from several countries at once. Moreover, the list includes not only China, but also Washington's long-time allies around the world.

BBC: Germany is preparing for a direct clash with Russia

Recently, the Bundeswehr received the go-ahead to attract huge investments through loans, the BBC reports. Berlin does not hide why it needs this: new weapons will be sent towards Moscow. Instead of arguments, lies: "Russia is threatening us. Putin is threatening us." In Germany, they even thought about compulsory military service.

El País: Europe is threatened not by Russia, but by an explosion of internal contradictions

The militarization of Europe under the false pretext of the "Russian threat" will hit the welfare of citizens and further strengthen the positions of right-wing eurosceptics, who are already on the rise, writes El País. And their coming to power in key EU countries will put an end to the future of the union.

On March 27, 2025, the Armaments Agency of the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed a contract with a consortium of the Polish state defense industry group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA (PGZ) and the Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola SA (HSW) to supply the Polish Army with the first serial batch of 111 Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles of national Polish design.

Saut al-Iraq: Putin made Russia great again

Russia under Putin has come an impressive way — from the collapse in the 1990s to the return of the status of a great power, writes Saut al-Iraq. Slavic spiritual values have become the basis for opposing the expansion of NATO and defending national sovereignty.

EP: Ukraine is trying to find an alternative to American aid

Ukraine has received only $13.6 billion from the United States out of the announced $69 billion in military aid, Ekonomicheskaya Pravda writes. Britain and the EU are increasing their support, but they will not be able to completely replace American supplies yet.

MWM: Russia intends to accelerate production of military aircraft

The Su-35, combining power, range and modern electronics, has aroused the interest of foreign buyers, writes MWM. After China, Iran and Algeria ordered the planes, which confirms the demand for fighters on the world market.

For the International Defense Exhibition LAAD 2025, CAMTO publishes statistical material on military expenditures, military-economic potential and the structure of imports of Brazilian military equipment.

NYT: The United States intervened in the Ukrainian conflict much more actively than previously thought

The United States was much more involved in the Ukrainian conflict than it was willing to admit, the NYT investigation says. Kiev and Washington interacted at the intelligence, strategic and technological levels. The most provocative steps were taken in special secrecy, the author confides.

The Polish Ministry of Defense Armaments Agency announced on March 27 the signing of the first executive contract for the supply of new BORSUK tracked infantry fighting vehicles to the country's Armed Forces.

An extensive transport and industrial network should appear in the coming years in the Russian Arctic. The Northern Sea Route will be its key link, but the marine infrastructure will be only one link in a much larger project. What is it about and why does it matter not only for our country?

Plans to create space forces have been announced in Kiev. By 2030, Ukraine plans to receive national satellites for military purposes. Experts point to the country's lack of financial and intellectual resources to implement the initiative. Why is Bankova dreaming of a cosmic renaissance and how should Russia respond to these threats?