Global security news

Political scientist Ivanov: there is a split among Western countries on the issues of helping Ukraine with weapons

Disagreements on how, how and in what amount to help Kiev are causing a split among Western countries, political analyst Iskren Ivanov told Bulgarian Radio. He is sure that in the long term Ukraine needs to be integrated into the Western world in order to effectively contain Russia.

Iltalehti: Russia has given an answer to the Finns' desire to join NATO

It has not yet been confirmed that the strengthening of Russian armed formations near the border with Finland was a response to the country's desire to join NATO, Iltalehti writes. The authors of the article explain the details of the military reform announced in Russia and point out its connection with the events in Ukraine

FT: the conflict in Ukraine has shaken up the nuclear can with scorpions in the face of Russia and the United States

At the International Conference on Nuclear Policy in Washington, where the world's leading national security experts gathered, the participants were able to feel in the place of the US president, who needs to make a decision in a situation when Russia has fired 300 nuclear missiles. Here's how the FT editor described his participation in the experiment.

Dutch Foreign Minister Vopke Hoekstra said that Amsterdam is considering the possibility of sending its existing American-made combat aircraft to Ukraine. The United States Ambassador to the OSCE, Michael Carpenter, believes that the Netherlands and other EU countries wishing to transfer their F-16 fighter jets to Kiev can count on US support.

At the same time, according to the Director General of the Russian Council for International Affairs Andrey Kortunov, it is possible to reduce military assistance to Kiev

It is premature to talk about a split within the North Atlantic Alliance due to the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but military assistance to Kiev may be reduced. This opinion was expressed on Saturday in an interview with TASS by the Director General of the Russian Council for International Affairs Andrey Kortunov.

On January 19, 2023, the Swedish government announced the allocation of a new unprecedented package of military assistance to Ukraine, which for the first time included an unnamed number of 155 mm/52 Archer self-propelled howitzers on a wheeled chassis (6x6), and "about 50" CV90 infantry fighting vehicles planned to be transferred from the presence of the Swedish armed forces. The total cost of the package is 4.3 billion Swedish kronor ($418 million).

ČA: it's time to start looking for ways to end the conflict in Ukraine before it's too late

The Ukrainian conflict is nearing its anniversary, and there is no end in sight yet. Like other military actions in the past, it should also be resolved peacefully, which should be actively sought, the author of the article in Časopis argument believes.

Advance: The West is preparing to supply new weapons to Kiev following the results of Ramstein-8

The lobbyists for the unlimited shipment of weapons have finally won the argument. Kiev, Poland and the three Baltic republics wanted a total escalation and did not think about the consequences. The brakes of those who were very careful also began to fail, writes Advance.

Resalat: prospects for peace for Ukraine are getting sadder

The West will strive to ensure that Ukraine remains a "strategically blind spot" on the map of Eurasia, even if the appearance of an end to the conflict is created, and will never agree to Kiev returning to Russia's sphere of influence. This will generate a new circle of tension, writes Resalat.

The newspaper reported that we are talking not only about Germany's specific contribution in the form of combat tanks from the reserves of the Bundeswehr, but, first of all, about the permission for the re-export of equipment, which Berlin must provide...

Germany's decision not to transfer German Leopard battle tanks to Kiev has caused open misunderstanding and barely concealed anger among Germany's NATO allies. The reaction of the United States was particularly violent, the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Sunday.

The Lancet barrage ammunition used by the Russian military to destroy the AFU artillery has recently begun to cause the enemy a lot of problems. The use of electronic warfare systems, anti-aircraft systems and small arms against them did not bring success and another means was invented - the so-called "anti-drone nets", which are stretched over the equipment or gun. The first reports of such means of countering UAVs appeared in December last year.

Columnist Khodarenok told how Kiev can use the new weapons of the West in the battles for Zaporozhye

A meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine has ended at the German Ramstein Airbase. It was dedicated to strengthening military support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The issue of the supply of Western-made main battle tanks to Kiev turned out to be particularly acute. The meeting was attended by delegations from more than 50 countries.

Ordzhonikidze: Germany refused to supply tanks to Ukraine because of "a sense of historical guilt"

Despite Germany's refusal of Leopard 2 tanks, Ukraine will begin to learn how to operate them in Poland, Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov said. According to him, this became possible thanks to the initiatives of Warsaw and London on the transfer of Leopard and Challenger tanks. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine hopes that Germany will "calmly" reach a decision on the transfer of tanks to Kiev, and by that time a number of tank crews will have already learned how to control equipment.

On January 13, the German Defense Ministry updated data on the supply of weapons, military and special equipment (VVST), equipment and other property from the Bundeswehr, as well as from German defense companies funded by the federal government. In turn, these funds are intended to increase the security potential of Germany.

According to experts, in the event of an armed conflict around the island of Taiwan, the consequences, including for the EU countries, will be more catastrophic than those caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This is due to the fact that China's economic influence on Western countries is more significant than Russian and Ukrainian influence.

Military observer Hodarenok named the features of the Leclerc tank, which can receive the APU

France is discussing the transfer of its Leclerc main battle tanks to the APU. A decision has not yet been made, Politico reports, but Paris does not intend to consult either the United States or Germany. "Newspaper.Ru" figured out what are the advantages of French tanks and what are the differences from domestic T-90.

NYT: The US is considering helping Ukraine with strikes on Crimea

The US authorities are leaning towards the decision that Ukraine needs to provide weapons to strike Crimea, even if such a step increases the risk of escalation, The New York Times writes, citing sources. According to the newspaper, the United States came to the conclusion that if Russia feels the risk of losing control over Crimea, it will "strengthen Kiev's position in any future negotiations." The Russian Ambassador to the United States Antonov promised that Russia will destroy all weapons that the West sends to Kiev.

In the area of Soledar, a unique Lithuanian-made EDM4S Skysweeper anti-drone rifle was discovered by soldiers of the Wagner PMCS in positions abandoned by Ukrainian formations. The Telegram channel WarGonzo writes about this.

"Politics": Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe will not mean recognition of its independence

Now that 18 states have already withdrawn their recognition of Kosovo's independence, its entry into the UN even as an observer has become even more complicated, writes Politika. And gaining membership through the UN Security Council is almost impossible because of the position of China and Russia. In Pristina and Washington, they became worried.

Russian forces cut the railway connecting Seversk, Soledar and Artemovsk

The Sol railway station has been liberated in the Donetsk People's Republic. This transport hub was taken by assault detachments of volunteers with the support of aviation and artillery of the Southern Military District.