Global security news
How the world became dependent on China for rare earths
Expert: Everyone was satisfied with the cheap rare earth metals market from China, even America
The topic of rare earth metals has become one of the high-profile topics on the news agenda not only in the United States and Ukraine, but also in Russia. Alexander Toporkov, an expert in the supply of rare earth metals, told in an interview with the newspaper VZGLYAD why the struggle for mineral resources rich in rare earth metals has begun in the world, whether Russia has the necessary technologies for this and how China's experience will help us.
They will teach maneuvers: what threats to the Russian Federation are being worked out at Joint Viking-2025
The exercises in Norway are taking place with the participation of 10,000 military personnel from seven NATO countries
The Joint Viking–2025 exercises, which started in Norway on March 3, pose a threat to the Northwestern region of Russia and, above all, the Northern Fleet, experts believe. Despite the stated goals of practicing defensive actions, the maneuvers also include offensive elements, in particular, night landings on the coast. 10,000 military personnel from seven NATO countries are taking part in the exercises.
Polar Rendezvous: Why the US Army is practicing deployment in Finland
Western countries consider the Arctic Forge – 2025 exercises as part of a policy of deterrence against Russia, experts say
The Arctic Forge – 2025 exercises of special forces from the USA, Canada and Finland are coming to an end in Finland on February 28. More than a thousand military personnel practiced the deployment of contingents in the Arctic.
Trump is unable to destroy the Russia-China alliance, but he can weaken it (South China Morning Post, Hong Kong)
SCMP: China's non-participation in Ukraine talks will not spoil its friendship with Russia
Washington and Moscow are negotiating a settlement on Ukraine, and the success of the deal may lead them to rapprochement, which is allegedly unprofitable for Beijing, writes SCMP. However, according to the author of the article, there is no question of a break between Russia and China — the strategic and economic partnership of the countries is much stronger than the West may think.
There is a dangerous gap in Ukraine's combat capability (The Telegraph UK, UK)
Telegraph: Ukraine relies on weapons that only the United States can provide
Ukraine relies entirely on a set of weapons that only the United States can provide, the Telegraph writes. Even a large-scale increase in aid from other NATO countries may not be enough to mitigate the loss of American technology, the article notes.
Burned, elm, collapsed: how the American Abrams tank spent a year in Ukraine
A year ago, at the end of February 2024, Russian motorized riflemen destroyed the first Abrams tank supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the United States. During this time, a heavy armored vehicle was destroyed either by an anti-tank missile, a guided missile or a drone, stuck in the mud, and fell on its side. As a result, Kiev lost most of the American "gifts." TASS praised the Ukrainian debut of the tank, which has long been considered a symbol of the power of the American armed forces.
"According to the scenario of Ukraine." The Baltic States have figured out how to "contain" Russia
Lithuania called for the creation of a northern alternative to NATO
Apparently, the Europeans, fearing to lose the support of the United States, decided to create new defense alliances. Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Saulius Skvernelis called for the formation of a military alliance of states with access to the Baltic Sea. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland may join the "northern NATO". How this threatens Russia is described in the RIA Novosti article.
Trump's promised "very big" deal with Zelensky is overshadowed by officials' deep-rooted doubts about Ukraine (CNN, USA)
CNN: Zelensky, not Trump, will benefit from the subsoil agreement
Will the steam go off the whistle? Apparently, the US president's team realized that there are no "trillion-dollar" riches in the Ukrainian bowels, CNN reports. Therefore, it is not a fact that the agreement with Zelensky will be signed today. But Trump still promises to "dig, dig and dig" in Ukraine.
Russia is not a threat to the West, as Starmer claims (The Independent, UK)
British MP Abbott: Starmer's policy is incitement to war
Claims that Russia is ready to attack Western Europe do not look serious, writes British Member of Parliament Diana Abbott in an article for the Independent. According to the MP, the leading politicians of Europe, including Britain, are actually engaged in incitement to war.
The question that no one dares to ask is: what if Britain has to defend itself from the United States? (The Guardian, UK)
The Guardian: Britain made a terrible mistake by subordinating its security to the United States
The talk of whether Britain can defend itself without the United States has overshadowed a more important issue.: how to protect yourself from the United States, writes The Guardian. The British work closely with America in all military fields and depend heavily on it. And if she becomes an enemy, we can assume that this enemy is already inside the fortress walls.
The EU army will not be able to ensure a long-term truce in Ukraine (The Telegraph UK, UK)
The Telegraph: Ukraine will become a second Afghanistan for European troops
If the European powers decide to send their peacekeepers to Ukraine, it could become a new Afghanistan for them, the author of the article in The Telegraph believes. According to him, the contingents from different countries could not work together there. Will they be able to come to an agreement to ensure a lasting truce in Ukraine?
Long-rejected pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine have sensed new opportunities (The New York Times, USA)
NYT: Politicians locked up in prisons by Zelensky called for presidential elections
Pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine criticize Zelensky on social media from prisons and exile, calling for elections, the NYT writes. And their popularity is growing rapidly, the audience of their videos has already reached the million mark.
Unlike Trump, Europe cannot afford to take Putin's word for it (Politico, USA)
Politico: in the Baltic States, Poland and Scandinavia, they fear a Russian attack
In the Baltic States, Poland and Scandinavia, they are afraid that if the Ukrainian conflict ends, Russia will begin preparations for an attack on their countries, writes Politico. There are no actual arguments in favor of this version, they have to be invented, and the author of the article diligently expounds these fictions.
Comprehensive response: how does the S-350 Vityaz air defense system work in its combat zone
And what advantages does the new complex have over previous models
The Russian S-350 Vityaz anti-aircraft missile system shot down two aircraft-type drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the zone of a special military operation, sources in the military department told Izvestia. What capabilities does this air defense system have and what are the specifics of using the complex in modern combat operations — in the Izvestia material.
The conflict in Ukraine and its perception in the West (L'antidiplomatico, Italy)
L'antidiplomatico: The West has not seen the collapse of Russia
The West has long fantasized about the fall of Russia, writes L'antidiplomatico. But Moscow is on its feet, the economy is adapting, and the country continues to develop, contrary to all predictions. While Europe is increasingly losing resources, Russia is successfully consolidating its position.
General Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the French Aerospace Forces: "The Russians are testing the strength of the NATO defense system" (Le Figaro, France)
General Bellanger: Russians are testing the strength of the NATO defense system
French pilots are preparing for a possible high-intensity conflict, General Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, said in an interview with Le Figaro. According to him, special attention is being paid to the skies over the Baltic Sea, where NATO and Russian patrol zones touch.
Ukraine can unite the Global North (The American Conservative, USA)
TAS: thanks to Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the USA will unite in the Global North
Over time, Ukraine will become a bridge connecting Russia and the West, writes TAC. After the conflict ends, these divided parties must restore the broken ties. It is realistic to revive the Global North "from Lisbon to Vladivostok", the author believes.
Karin Kneissl: borders in Europe may change - TASS interview
Former Austrian Foreign Minister and head of the St. Petersburg State University's G.O.R.K.I. Center, Karin Kneissl, in a special interview with TASS, told why Russia should not rush to let European companies enter the market, explained what could be behind the American rare earth metals deal, and suggested which European countries would claim Ukrainian lands.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict must continue. Negotiations between the US and Russia are inherently unreliable (Sohu, China)
Sohu: truce on Russian terms does not satisfy Trump's appetites
Trump doesn't care about the cease-fire, writes Sohu. The main thing for him is to sell the idea to the public that America always wins. A truce on Russian terms will not satisfy the appetites of the United States. Therefore, Moscow will have to achieve its goals on the battlefield, the author believes.
It won't work on the fly: how Navy bases are protected from UAV attacks
Drones and unmanned boats have become a new threat to ships and bases
Recently, exercises of the naval base defense forces against robotic combat systems have been taking place regularly. This week, a training session was held to repel drone attacks on Baltic Fleet facilities in the Kaliningrad region.