‘We know who the good guy is’ — Trump’s defense nominee grilled over war in Ukraine
Pete Hegseth’s nomination in November sent shockwaves through Pentagon corridors.
United States
US, Armenia sign strategic partnership agreement
The charter establishes a framework for expanded bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Armenia in the areas of economic cooperation, security and defense, and democracy.
Biden's aides warned Putin against Russia's plot to smuggle incendiary devices onto cargo planes, NYT reports
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden's team delivered a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin to put an end to Russian intelligence's suspected plans to smuggle incendiary devices onto U.S.-bound cargo planes, The New York Times reported on Jan. 14, citing unnamed sources.
Trump wants to meet Putin 'very quickly' after inauguration
Talking to Newsmax, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet as the war "hasn't gone so well for him either."
Putin has failed to meet any of his strategic objectives in Ukraine, Biden says
"When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought he'd conquer Kyiv in a matter of days ... He has failed thus far to subjugate Ukraine, failed to break the unity of NATO, and failed to make large territorial gains."
Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers carrying 2 million barrels of crude idling off China’s coast, Bloomberg reports
Three sanctioned tankers carrying over 2 million barrels of Russian crude oil are floating off China's coast after they were hit by fresh U.S. sanctions last week, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 13.
Biden team preparing strong Ukraine policy foundation for Trump handover, Blinken says
According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, there is no sense in "speculating on the point" that the war may not end in Ukraine's favor under the new administration.
'Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives' — Zelensky says Kyiv ready to send firefighters to California
"The situation there is extremely challenging, and Ukrainians can help Americans protect lives. This matter is being worked out... We already have 150 firefighters prepared."
Putin to push for barring Ukraine's NATO accession in expected talks with Trump, FT reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin's main goals in any peace negotiations include prohibiting Ukraine from ever entering NATO and reducing allied military presence in the eastern flank, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 10, citing a former Kremlin official and a source who discussed the matter with Putin.
US Congress should ensure that Ukraine aid continues even under Trump, Biden says
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden said on Jan. 10 he did all he could to help Ukraine and voiced hope that U.S. support will continue even after he leaves office.
Ukraine and Russia not prepared for peace talks, White House says
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that neither Russia nor Ukraine is currently prepared for negotiations to end the war, according to his comments at a briefing on Jan. 10.
US, UK impose sweeping sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, target shadow fleet
"The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia's key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
Incoming Trump peace envoy postponed Ukraine visit over legal reasons, Kyiv confirms
The visit is now expected to occur after President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
Kremlin 'welcomes' Trump's 'readiness' for talks on Russia's war in Ukraine
Donald Trump said on Jan. 9 that Vladimir Putin wants to meet with him, and that preparations for a meeting are underway.
Trump says Putin wants to meet, arrangements already underway
"(Russian President Vladimir Putin) wants to meet, and we are setting it up," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Jan. 9.
Moscow closely monitoring Trump's Greenland ambitions, Kremlin claims
"We are interested in preserving the atmosphere of peace and stability in the Arctic zone. We are watching the rather dramatic development of the situation very closely," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's comments about taking over Greenland.
Kyiv, Washington in talks on licensing air defense production in Ukraine, Zelensky says
Zelensky made this statement at the opening of the 25th Ramstein summit, which was dedicated to strengthening Ukraine's defenses, particularly its air defense.
Russia paid Taliban $200,000 per killed US, coalition soldier, media investigation says
The joint media investigation sheds fresh details on reports of Russia-sponsored killings of U.S. soldiers that first surfaced in 2020, including names of Russian intelligence officers and their local collaborators involved.
Biden administration unveils its last $500 million aid package for Ukraine before Trump takes office
The package is expected to be the final U.S. defense tranche provided by the Biden administration before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
Ex-FBI informant accused of lying about Biden family's ties to Ukrainian business jailed for 6 years
A Californian court sentenced former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov, who falsely accused the Biden family of taking a bribe from a Ukrainian business, to six years in prison, CNN reported on Jan. 8.
End of Russian gas transit via Ukraine one of Moscow's 'most costly defeats,' White House says
Ukraine's move will deprive Russia of about $6.5 billion in annual revenue from gas sales to Europe, according to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
North Korea gains combat experience fighting in Ukraine, boosting regional threat, US warns
North Korea "is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology, and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbors," the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N. said on Jan. 8.
Russia doesn't have as many advantages as it seems, US defense secretary says
"There's a thought that Russia has the ultimate hand here and it has every advantage," outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Bloomberg News. "It has some advantages, but it doesn't completely dominate this equation here."
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
Biden’s final $500 million Ukraine military aid to be announced on Jan. 9, VOA reports
Despite previous commitments to exhaust the remaining PDA funds, approximately $3.8 billion will remain unused, according to the Pentagon, leaving the funds at the disposal of the incoming administration.
Next Ramstein meeting may be its last, Polish defense minister says
The Jan. 9 meeting will focus on strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities through 2027, including air force, armor, artillery, drone, de-mining, missile defense, and maritime security needs, according to a Pentagon statement on Jan. 7.
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.
US lawmakers submit resolution labeling Russia's war in Ukraine genocide
The draft resolution was submitted by a bipartisan group of legislators, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said in a Facebook post.
Pentagon official coordinating Ukraine aid resigns ahead of Trump inauguration
Laura Cooper, senior Pentagon official leading the Russia and Ukraine office, stepped down as Donald Trump's inauguration looms, Politico reported on Jan. 6, citing one former and three current officials.
Upcoming Ramstein summit to focus on supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities through 2027, Pentagon says, as Trump inauguration looms
The Jan. 9 Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will focus primarily on supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities in establishing a "credible deterrent force" through 2027, the Pentagon said on Jan. 7.
US sanctions Orban ally Antal Rogan for corruption, abuse of power
Antal Rogan is the first high-ranking Hungarian official sanctioned by the U.S. under the Magnitsky Act, which targets individuals involved in serious human rights abuses and corruption.
Europe cannot fill void left by US in Ukraine’s defense
Since the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, the question on everyone's mind is whether Europe, including the U.K., can replace the military assistance the U.S. is giving Ukraine. The short answer is no. The reasons for this are a mix of politics and
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