NATO deploys Norwegian F-35 fighters for 1st time during Russian Jan. 15 attack on Ukraine
Russia attacked Ukraine using cruise and ballistic missiles on Jan. 15, targeting critical infrastructure in several oblasts.
NATO
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Kyiv claims
Key developments on Jan. 15: * Ukraine's military now totals 880,000 soldiers, facing 600,000 Russian troops, Zelensky says * Russia launches mass missile attack against Ukraine * Ukraine, Russia have to make concessions to end war, Rubio says * Ukraine brings back 25 people from Russian captivity, including Azovstal defenders * Lithuania would
Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Ukraine’s European partners can’t afford to watch and wait for Washington’s next move
Just days out from the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the future of Russia’s war against Ukraine is dominated by a great unknown: whether the incoming president will manage to push Moscow to stop its advance on the battlefield, or whether he will disengage and perhaps
NATO defense budget could surpass Russia’s tenfold if Europe matches Poland’s spending, Tusk says
"No one but Europe will solve its defense problems," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Jan. 15.
NATO launches Baltic Sea naval operation after undersea infrastructure sabotage
The summit welcomed NATO’s "Baltic Sentry" mission, aimed at monitoring, deterring, and responding to potential threats. Up to 10 NATO vessels will patrol the Baltic Sea until April, enhancing situational awareness and protecting critical undersea infrastructure.
Raise defense spending or start learning Russian, NATO chief tells Europe
"Everything I'm seeing at this moment is not nearly enough, and if we don't do it (raise the spending targets) we are safe now but not in four or five years. So if you don't do it, get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
Oil tanker crew planned more cable sabotage before capture, Finland says
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Baltic Sea region has faced numerous disruptions to power cables, telecom links, and gas pipelines.
Slavoj Žižek: The magic tricks behind Russia’s propaganda machine
I must admit that I occasionally enjoy podcasts explaining the secrets behind well-known magic tricks (the three-shell game, mentalism, levitation, etc.). After reading recent news from Russia, I’ve come to the conclusion that these tricks offer a clue to how Russian propaganda has achieved what seems impossible to common
Sweden to increase military presence in Baltic Sea following suspected cable sabotage
Sweden will increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea through the deployment of three warships and a radar reconnaissance aircraft in response to the suspected sabotage of several underwater cables, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Jan. 12.
The Week Ahead: Key Developments Impacting Global Politics & Markets
Editor's note: This article is an on-site version of KI Insights' The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Jan. 13 to Jan. 20. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday. With 8 eight days left until the
NATO won't endorse Trump's 5% spending target, but ready for increase, Reuters reports
NATO allies are unlikely to meet U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's proposed spending target of 5% of GDP but are open to an increase from the current 2%, Reuters reported on Jan. 10, citing comments from officials and analysts from various NATO countries.
Kyiv calls Polish presidential candidate 'manipulative' for comments on Ukraine's EU, NATO accession
"Such statements indicate that the Polish politician prioritizes short-term political considerations over the strategic security interests of his own country," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.
Zelensky, NATO chief discuss air defense, arms production at Ramstein meeting
Zelensky emphasized involving NATO members in purchasing Ukrainian weapons under a model pioneered by Denmark. The Danish government became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.
Lithuania tightens security ahead of decoupling from Russian energy grid, Euronews reports
Lithuania has announced plans to enhance security measures around its power grids with Poland in preparation for next month's decoupling from the Russian energy system.
NATO membership is Ukraine’s best security guarantee, Finland's FM tells Reuters
"We are supporting Ukraine's NATO membership further down the line and hopefully not in (the) too-distant future," Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Jan. 8.
Why did Russia invade Ukraine? Despite Trump's claims, it wasn't because of NATO
President-elect Donald Trump blamed outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 7 for Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. Trump said Biden's support of Ukraine's NATO membership had led to Russia's war against the country. "I could understand their feelings," he said, referring to the country that launched the deadliest
Garry Kasparov: 'You never hear Russian opposition actually say Ukraine must win'
The Russian opposition is an odd bunch. While not supporting Russia's brutal all-out war against Ukraine and its people, the leaders of the so-called opposition don't want their country to lose. A number of those who oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime have petitioned for the West to
Zelensky addresses Trump’s comments on NATO, stresses security guarantees
The Ukrainian president argued that the absence of NATO membership and concrete security guarantees contributed to Russia’s decision to launch the full-scale invasion.
Finland to host NATO Baltic summit, address Russia’s 'shadow fleet' sabotage threats
The meeting, co-organized by Finland and Estonia, will focus on enhancing NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea and responding to risks posed by Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, a group of tankers allegedly used for sanction evasion and espionage.
NATO reportedly sending ships to guard cables under Baltic Sea
A fleet of up to 10 NATO vessels will guard the infrastructure under the Baltic Sea until April, the Finnish broadcaster YLE reported on Jan. 7 after several cables were cut in suspected sabotage.
Trump calls on NATO to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Jan. 7 that NATO should raise its defense spending benchmark from 2% of GDP to 5%, echoing his earlier calls for Europe to spend more on its security.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims
Key developments on Jan. 7: * Ukraine hits Russia's infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims * In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles in single mission, Air Force claims * Trump blames Biden for provoking Russia's war by supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations * Ukraine says it holds Kurakhove's
Trump blames Biden for provoking Russia's war by supporting Ukraine's NATO aspirations
"I could understand their [Russia's] feelings about that," U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said during a Jan. 7 press conference.
Russia ‘delusional’ about its ability to sustain Ukraine war, says Latvian foreign minister
As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine nears its fourth year, a worsening battlefield situation and the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency signal that the war could soon be entering a volatile and unpredictable endgame. In anticipation of a potential Trump-negotiated ceasefire, Kyiv is looking to
UK, Baltics, Nordics step up undersea monitoring amid cable sabotage, Russian shadow fleet concerns
The U.K-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has set up a tracking system to alert allies if a ship poses a threat to undersea cable infrastructure and track Russia's shadow fleet of tankers, London said on Jan. 7.
‘Putin is afraid of Trump’s administration’ – Estonian foreign minister on potential Russia-Ukraine negotiations
As Ukraine and Europe enter 2025 with a worsening situation on the battlefield and the incoming Trump administration hoping to quickly reach some kind of peace in Russia’s all-out war, the first months of the year look to be fundamental in deciding the outcome of the war. While much
Finland's Fingrid requests seizure of Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker over suspected cable sabotage
The damaged cable is one of several recent incidents in the Baltic Sea under investigation as possible acts of sabotage.
Ukraine war latest: In world first, Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter
Key developments on Dec. 31: * Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian helicopter with anti-air missile in first strike of its kind * Russian attacks damage homes and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts ahead of New Year * Ukraine strikes oil depot in Russia's Smolensk Oblast, General Staff confirms * Russian officers trained for
Russian officers trained for attacks on Japan, South Korea in event of war with NATO, FT reports
One potential target for Russian strikes identified in the plans is a nuclear complex in Tokai, Japan.
NATO to strengthen Baltic Sea military presence following suspected underwater cable sabotage
NATO allies met on Dec. 30 to address the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, following damage to undersea cables connecting Estonia and Finland several days earlier.
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine prioritizing security guarantees over immediate NATO membership, senior diplomat says
Key developments on Dec. 28 - 29: * Ukraine prioritizing security guarantees over immediate NATO membership, senior diplomat says * Russia must admit guilt over downing Azerbaijani airliner, pay compensation, Azerbaijan's president says * Ukraine secures over $156 million for defense industry from European allies, defense minister says * Russia rejects Trump team's reported
Why is my life considered more important than a Ukrainian life?
Why is my life considered more important than a Ukrainian life? Why am I considered more important than the people I meet in Ukraine, who — even in the darkest times — still often extend such kindness and hospitality that you can't help but fall in love with this country? This isn’
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