• Scholz defends US missile deployment in Germany, citing Russian aggression against Ukraine as key factor

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has defended the proposed deployment of American long-range missile systems in Germany, stating that the presence of American missiles on German soil would serve as a deterrent, ensuring that Germany would not face any aggression.

    Scholz dismissed concerns that the planned deployment of American missiles might escalate tensions with Russia. He pointed out that the arms control regime in place has been carefully crafted and calibrated.

    "We need forces and means of …

  • EU tightens sanctions: bans investors from participating in Russian asset exchange scheme

    In a stern directive from the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), the European Commission has prohibited individuals and legal entities from EU countries from participating in an asset exchange scheme proposed by Russia. This announcement, made on Wednesday, July 24, underscores the EU's firm stance on the involvement of Russia's National Settlement Depository (NSD), which has been on the EU's sanctions list since June 2022, …

  • Netherlands and Denmark to supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine by summer 2024

    The Netherlands, in partnership with Denmark, is set to deliver 14 fully refurbished Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. The tanks, restored by the German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall after several months of rigorous testing, are poised for delivery to Ukraine by the end of summer 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced. While the exact delivery date remains undisclosed, it was noted that the first 12 tanks are already prepped for dispatch, with the remaining two undergoing final tests to ensure …

  • Belarusian Special Forces train on captured Ukrainian armored vehicles under Wagner Group supervision

    Belarusian special forces from the "Vityaz" unit have been training using Ukrainian equipment captured by Russia, Belaruski Hajun reported. The training involved the Ukrainian Kozak armored vehicle and was conducted by Wagner Group fighters, who are banned from being mentioned in Belarus.

    The exercises, which took place last week, were reported in the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Telegram channel. Participants included members of the "Vityaz" special forces unit, under …

  • Turkey seeks UN intervention as Russia ignores requests for access to Ukrainian POWs

    QIRIM.News reports that Russia is ignoring Turkey's requests to grant access to Ukrainian prisoners of war and disclose the conditions under which these prisoners are held. During a meeting with the families of Ukrainian prisoners, Turkey's chief ombudsman Süleyman Malkaç stated, "I wrote a letter to the Russian Embassy in Ankara on July 5, 2024. In the letter, I mentioned my visit to Ukraine and my inspection of Russian prisoners held there. I also expressed my intent to visit Ukrainian …