NATO

As China and Russia get “closer” and Beijing invests in nuclear weapons, NATO focuses on new “friends”

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Tokyo — China’s growing assertiveness and collaboration with Russia poses a threat not only to Asia but also to Europe, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday as he sought stronger cooperation and more “friends” for NATO in the Indo-Pacific region. Stoltenberg said China is increasingly investing in nuclear weapons and long-range missiles without providing transparency … Read more

Russia presses ahead with Donetsk campaign; Ukraine wants fighter jets

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Town of Bakhmut comes under renewed fire -Ukraine military Zelenskiy confers with top defense officials US prepares $2.2 billion weapons package for Ukraine KYIV, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Russian forces are making incremental gains in their push to take territory in Ukraine’s eastern province of Donetsk, focusing on the town of Bakhmut north of the … Read more

Turkey frustrates Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO bids

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HELSINKI – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s dogged opposition to Sweden’s application for membership of NATO has stymied hopes in Stockholm and Helsinki that Ankara will give its approval ahead of parliamentary elections in Turkey slated for May 14. The already tense diplomatic relations between Turkey and Sweden were strained further on Jan. 21 when … Read more

Talk of fighter jets for Kyiv puts strains on Western unity

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s push for fighter jets to help beat back Russia’s invasion force risks straining the unity of Ukraine’s Western allies, amid fears that the move could escalate the nearly year-long conflict. and draw them deeper into the war. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov was due in Paris Tuesday where discussions about … Read more

Western allies differ over jets for Ukraine as Russia claims gains

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Biden says “no” when asked about F-16s for Ukraine Zelenskiy says Moscow seeks ‘big revenge’ Russian administrator claims foothold in Vuhledar Kyiv could recapture ground when Western weapons arrived – group KYIV, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s defense minister is expected in Paris on Tuesday to meet President Emmanuel Macron amid a debate among Kyiv’s … Read more

5 Ukrainian civilians killed as warring sides mull next move

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Fighting remained largely deadlocked Monday in eastern Ukraine where Russian shelling killed five civilians over the past day, according to Ukrainian officials, as the warring sides increased their needs for renewed military pushes expected in the coming weeks. The casualties included a woman who was killed and three others who were … Read more

Ukraine calls for faster weapons supplies as Russia presses eastern offensive

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Three killed in Russian strikes on Kherson – governor Russian forces again shell Vuhledar in the east Zelenskiy calls on allies to speed up arms deliveries Zelenskiy presses Macron to ban Russia from the Paris Games KYIV, Ukraine, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Russian missile strikes killed three people in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson … Read more

How activists shaped Sweden’s NATO debacle – POLITICO

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Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and an advisor at Gallos Technologies. Sweden’s process to join NATO should have been the easiest accession in the alliance’s history — then Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan decided to play hardball, mixing legitimate fears about terrorism with electoral opportunistic politicking. Unfortunately, various activists … Read more

Ukraine says fierce fighting after tank pledges, seeks more arms

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Fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine – Ukrainian officials Ukraine says it needs more weapons, calls for sanctions Western allies agreed this week to provide tanks Russia says the US president holds the key to ending the fighting KYIV, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Ukraine on Friday fought Russian troops trying to pierce its lines in the … Read more

Russia hits Ukraine with missiles, says promised tanks show US, Europe’s “direct involvement” in the war is “growing”

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Russia launched a wave of new missile and drone attacks against Ukraine Thursday, killing at least 11 people, including one in the capital Kyiv, according to emergency officials, and targeting the country’s already battered energy infrastructure. The strikes forced officials to switch off the electricity in a couple of regions to cope with reduced capacity. … Read more