Top Russian defense official gets 13 years in graft crackdown
Authorities detained former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov in April 2024 on bribery allegations, later adding embezzlement charges in October.
Defense
NATO allies set new 5% defense spending target, reaffirm support for Ukraine, but fail to condemn Russia
The leaders also reaffirmed support for Ukraine, stating that direct contributions to Ukraine's defense and industrial capacity will be counted toward the 5% total.
UK to buy Ukraine weapons with frozen Russian asset proceeds
The move represents the U.K.'s first direct use of Russia-linked funds to buy weaponry for Kyiv.
Trump casts doubt on NATO defense pledge as alliance confronts Russian threat
Although Article 5 is central to NATO’s security framework, U.S. President Donald Trump has previously expressed skepticism about honoring it, often criticizing member states for not contributing enough to shared defense efforts.
‘It’s a race’ — UK’s largest ammo maker rebooting chemistry to break NATO’s dependence on explosive imports
Russia’s war in Ukraine has drained Western ammunition stocks. Despite years of claimed weapons ramp-ups, NATO’s arms manufacturing is still not refilling those stocks apace, let alone making it to Ukraine in needed mass. The West has come to recognize that these shortages are due to the offshoring
UK to fund joint drone production with Ukraine
Britain will finance the procurement of Ukrainian-designed drones manufactured in the UK.
Russia remains 'the most significant, direct threat' to NATO, Rutte says ahead of summit
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said during a press briefing on June 23 that Russia remains the main threat to the alliance, citing Moscow's cooperation with China, North Korea, Iran, and Belarus.
Zelensky, Starmer hail 'massive step forward' in military cooperation
During a joint visit to a U.K. military training site for Ukrainian personnel, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he and Zelensky held "an excellent bilateral meeting" and had agreed to an "industrial military co-production agreement."
Aerospace giant Airbus to train Ukrainian specialists in aircraft maintenance
As part of the deal, Airbus will send representatives to Ukraine to train local specialists, who will then become certified instructors for aircraft maintenance.
'If we don't help Ukraine further, we should start learning Russian,' EU diplomacy chief says
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas cited a sharp increase in Russia's military spending, noting that Moscow is now allocating more money to defense than the EU combined, and more than its own health care, education, and social policies put together.
Let Ukraine join Joint Expeditionary Force countries. Especially now.
Editor's Note: This opinion was co-authored by eight lawmakers from Northern European countries, including the U.K., The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Denmark. As parliamentarians from Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) member states, we believe the time has come to welcome Ukraine as a full participant in our
Ukraine bracing for 'painful' reduction in US military aid after Hegseth announces cuts
Editor's note: For security reasons, the real names of the soldiers mentioned in this story have not been used. A reduction in U.S. military aid to Ukraine would be "painful" and could have potentially "dire consequences" for the global order, Ukrainian lawmakers and soldiers have told the Kyiv Independent.
Canada to hit NATO spending target this year as it shifts defense focus toward EU
Speaking at the University of Toronto, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said the move is part of a strategic pivot away from reliance on the U.S. and toward deeper cooperation with the European Union, citing growing security threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries.
What UK's Strategic Defense Review means for Ukraine
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on June 2 that the United Kingdom is moving to "warfighting readiness," in large part in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the threat Russia poses to Europe. He made the comment as his government unveiled its latest Strategic Defense Review, which
UK to provide Ukraine with 100,000 drones by April 2026
The UK pledged on June 4 to supply Ukraine with 100,000 drones by the end of April 2026, marking a tenfold increase from the previous year.
'We face war in Europe' — UK announces major defense spending boost amid Russian threat
Every part of society, every citizen of this country, has a role to play because we have to recognize that things have changed in the world of today... The front line, if you like, is here," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
UK wants nuclear-armed US fighter jets to counter Russian threat, Times reports
The British military is looking at F-35A Lightning stealth fighter jets, made by Lockheed Martin.
General Staff: Russia has lost 987,330 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
The number includes 1,230 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Infighting around EU rearmament undermines grand ambitions for European defense
Despite grand plans, the European Union’s hoped-for rearmament remains fully dependent on member nations stepping up their own defenses. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an 800-million-euro "Rearm Europe" plan to build out a defense architecture that has depended on the U.S. since the
Germany sets 2029 deadline to fully arm military amid fears of Russian threat, Reuters reports
NATO is expected to ask Berlin to at least quadruple its air defense systems, ranging from long-range platforms such as the Patriot to short-range interceptors, according to Reuters.
Pentagon may downgrade Ukraine-focused office amid policy restructure, media reports
As part of a broader policy realignment, this office would be merged into the Pentagon's Europe and NATO office, reducing its prominence despite its critical role since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Top executive at sanctioned Russian defense company reportedly injured in hammer attack
The Kurganpribor, which produces a range of equipment for Russia’s defense industry, including components for rocket systems, missiles, and bombs, is under U.S. and EU sanctions in response to Moscow’s full-scale war against Ukraine. It is described as one of the leading enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.
Ukraine war latest: Mass Ukrainian drone strike targets Moscow, Russia claims, multiple airports closed
* Mass Ukrainian drone strike targets Moscow, Russia claims, multiple airports closed * 9 Ukrainian children rescued from Russian-occupied territories, President's Office says * Trump tells European leaders Putin doesn’t want peace because he believes Russia winning war in Ukraine, WSJ reports * Kyiv proposes EU partners help directly fund Ukrainian military under
Kyiv proposes EU partners help directly fund Ukrainian military under new model
Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said Kyiv is proposing a new model: EU partners would help fund the Ukrainian military, and in return, Ukraine would be further integrated into the continent's defense system.
EU officially agrees on 150-billion-euro defense fund
"SAFE is an advantageous, low-interest, multi-year loan guaranteed by the EU budget," the Council of the EU said.
EU to downsize diplomatic service, prioritize Russia sanctions enforcement, POLITICO reports
The European Union is preparing to downsize its diplomatic service – the European External Action Service (EEAS) – and redirect funds toward strategic interests such as enforcing sanctions against Russia, POLITICO reported on May 20.
EU members preliminarily agree to launch 150-billion-euro defense fund, source says
The new mechanism, proposed by the European Commission in March, will allow member states to borrow money from the EU to purchase weapons and military equipment.
How Russia's Shahed drones are getting more deadly — and what Ukraine is doing about it
Editor’s note: Due to the security protocols of the unit featured in this story, the Ukrainian soldiers are identified by first name only. Russia’s air strikes on Ukraine have become far more deadly in recent months. Part of the uptick is due to limited air defense to bring
US to begin talks on troop reductions in Europe later this year, America’s NATO envoy says
"It’s more than 30 years of U.S. desire (to reduce troops in Europe), President Trump just said, enough, this is going to happen and it’s going to happen now," U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said.
NATO set to agree on 5% GDP defense spending, Rubio says
"We are headed for a summit in six weeks in which virtually every member of NATO will be at or above 2%, but more importantly, many of them will be over 4% and all will have agreed on a goal of reaching 5% over the next decade," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
NATO starts work on plan to increase defense spending after Trump criticism
Trump has long demanded that NATO allies increase their military spending, previously calling for the alliance to raise its benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP.
Some ReArm Europe funds to be funneled to Ukraine's defense, EU official says
"Only member states can take out loans within the 150 billion euros instrument, but they can use these funds for joint procurement with Ukraine," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said.
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