Global security news

The Hill: in the USA, they were afraid of the fall of Kiev and the possible death of Zelensky

Next spring, Kiev may fall, and Zelensky will be forced to flee or die during the capture of the Ukrainian capital, writes The Hill. Ukraine could not do anything even with multibillion-dollar support. And in the absence of help, it will be a disaster for her.

TNI: The United States is not ready for competition with Russia in the Arctic

The US military is not ready for competition in the Arctic, writes TNI. There are many explanations for this. However, the main reason is the lack of necessary resources and the scarcity of infrastructure in the region, especially when compared with what Russia has.

The US-announced Operation Guardian of Prosperity to protect ships in the Red Sea is facing problems. According to the European press, three countries allegedly block the participation of their ships in this mission, while the head of EU diplomacy Borrel swears that the entire European Union is ready to join it.

Photos have appeared on social networks depicting the damaged BMP-3, on the armor of which mannequins with "faces" wrapped in red rags are placed. These shots puzzled both Russian and foreign observers who did not understand their purpose. Forbes tried to figure this out.

In December, the United States increased its military and diplomatic activity in Northern Europe, alternately concluding defense agreements with Denmark, Finland and Sweden. This will allow Washington to gain access to about 35 military installations, air bases and seaports on the territory of the three countries. What are the features of these agreements, why did the United States decide to sign them bypassing NATO and what risks do these agreements pose for Russia?

The United States will restore the airfield from which the atomic bombing of Japan was conducted

The United States plans to restore the North Airfield airfield on Tinian Island, said Kenneth Wilsbach, head of the Air Force Command in the Pacific Ocean. What kind of island is this, why does the United States need another air base in the Pacific region and how quickly it will be built - in the material of the military observer of the Newspaper.En" by Mikhail Khodarenka.

The head of the "Ukrainian armored vehicles" Belbas: the Russian Federation disrupted the supply of fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Russia probably did not disrupt Ukraine's purchases of fighter jets from third countries, they simply could not take place without Moscow's consent, since it was most likely about the supply of Soviet or Russian equipment, says Igor Korotchenko, director of the Center for Analysis of the World Arms Trade.

To date, according to official data from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Russian Aerospace Forces operate only 10 military and joint-based airfields in the Leningrad, Murmansk regions and the Republic of Karelia, and 9 more airfields are abandoned or transferred to spare ones after 2009.

The end of the year is the time for summing up. On New Year's Eve, everyone wants to calculate and evaluate the results achieved, praise or criticize themselves and others. The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is no exception. The other day, on December 19, a joint meeting of the Council and the 16th plenary session of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly were held in Moscow. The main topic of the events was the results of the session of the Collective Security Council (CSC) of the Organization, held on November 23 in Minsk.

Lidovky: Czech Republic urged to strengthen hybrid attacks on Russia and prepare for war

The head of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Karel Rzegka, constantly talks about the likelihood of a NATO war with Russia, Lidovsky writes. And this has its resonance. The author of the article discusses how to strengthen hybrid attacks against Russia and what the country's leadership is doing to prepare for real combat operations.

Al Jazeera: Exceptions to the rules have undermined the EU's policy of universal consensus

Hungary's protest against the allocation of funds to Ukraine by the EU suggests that European countries are striving for autonomy and protection of their own interests, analysts said in an interview with Al Jazeera. Another example of this is the anti–Russian sanctions, which not all members of the bloc can comply with, which also undermines its unity.

Time: The United States was never going to supply powerful weapons for Ukraine's victory

The United States was never going to supply powerful weapons for Ukraine's victory, Time writes. Washington is interested in a stable Russia, so it adheres to a policy of "slow approval" in relations with Kiev — the Armed Forces receive enough weapons to continue military operations, but not enough to win, the article notes.

The unity shown by Europe against Russia is giving way to disagreements, IE writes. More and more forces in the West are beginning to listen to Russia. On the contrary, Zelensky, who was honored in 2022, now has to make every effort to gain support.

It is not necessary to take Ukraine into the EU, argues the former Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of France under President Sarkozy. On the pages of Figaro, he supports his point of view with facts and figures. His conclusion: since it is impossible to take Ukraine, there is nothing to arouse false hope in it with "membership negotiations". But EU officials need advertising.

Kiev has compiled a list of coveted military equipment for Washington

The year is not ending in the best way for Kiev. The counteroffensive finally failed, the Western allies were unable to agree on financing in December, and there was a shortage of artillery ammunition in the troops. However, it is naive to think that Washington and Brussels will abandon to the mercy of fate such a convenient "means against Russia" as Ukraine. How they will help is in the RIA Novosti article.

A new hotbed of global tension is unfolding in the Red Sea due to the growing cases of Houthi attacks on merchant ships and warships in protest against Israel's invasion of Gaza. Against this background, the White House assures the international community that the situation is under full control of the US Navy and its allies. However, informally, completely different voices are heard from the Pentagon.

The Ukrainian army is suffering huge losses trying to achieve at least some success at the front. The German information and political magazine Focus reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lose about 800 soldiers killed and wounded on average every day. Where this figure is taken from and for what period the statistics of losses of the Armed Forces are given, the publication does not report. Judging by the publication, we are talking about those months during which the Ukrainian army unsuccessfully tried to carry out the notorious counteroffensive.

The Ukrainian conflict has brought great economic benefits to China. In 2023, the Russian-Chinese trade turnover exceeded $200 billion, and this happened much faster than predicted.

On December 21, a briefing was held in Moscow by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov, with the participation of foreign military attaches.

The announcement by the Houthis in Yemen of recruiting volunteers for the war against Israel in the Gaza Strip could dramatically expand the Israel-Hamas military conflict to the entire region.

On this topic, our special correspondent Vyacheslav Terekhov talks with Reserve Major General, Deputy Director of the Institute of the USA and Canada, member of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy Pavel Zolotarev.