DefenceTalkFrench Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius defended Tuesday in Washington the sale of two warships to Russia, despite US opposition — while leaving open the door to re-examine the contract in October. Per a 2011 agreement worth $1.2 billion, France is to deliver two Mistral warships — an advanced helicopter assault ship — to Russia. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-foreign-minister-defends-sale-of-warships-to-russia-59592/

DefenceTalkThe United States has begun a new military exercise with Estonia amid no indication of a Russian troop pullback from its border with Ukraine. Pentagon Spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren announced today that Exercise Spring Storm began earlier this week. At the same time, he said there has been no change in the Russian posture […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-announces-more-exercises-with-east-european-allies-partners-59545/

DefenceTalkRussia plans to reinforce its Black Sea Fleet based in Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in March, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. “This year, the Black Sea fleet will receive (new) submarines and new-generation ships,” Shoigu said in televised comments, without giving details of numbers. New air defense units will also be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-reinforce-crimea-fleet-minister-59507/

DefenceTalkUkraine’s armed forces are on “full combat alert” against a possible Russian invasion, Kiev said Wednesday, as authorities admitted they were “helpless” to prevent pro-Kremlin insurgents tightening their grip on the increasingly chaotic east of the country. Rebels stormed the regional police building and town hall in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, local officials […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-on-combat-alert-as-rebels-gain-ground-59470/

DefenceTalkRussia has the world’s second-ranked military after former Cold War foe the United States. The armed forces in Ukraine, a former republic in the ex-Soviet Union, are much, much smaller. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. Other factors come into play in weighing which side might get the upper hand should war break out […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-vs-russia-military-mismatch-but-does-that-mean-no-contest-59408/

DefenceTalkCanada is deploying six CF-18 fighter jets to Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s response to the worsening crisis in Ukraine, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine was on the brink of civil war, stoking fears of outright Russian intervention. NATO has increased air sorties and additional navy ships […]https://www.defencetalk.com/canada-sends-fighter-jets-to-eastern-europe-59366/

DefenceTalkThe United States will send helmets, medical supplies and other non-lethal military aid to Ukraine amid fears of another Russian incursion there, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday. Hagel said he had informed Kiev that President Barack Obama “has approved additional non-lethal military assistance for health and welfare items and other supplies.” The aid includes […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-send-non-lethal-military-aid-to-ukraine-hagel-59364/

DefenceTalkThe future of the Russian armed forces lies in developing high-precision ‘smart’ weapons and boosting the capacity to conduct no-contact warfare, a Russian deputy prime minister in charge of the defense industry said on Saturday. “Old-fashioned army and fleet, organized in accordance with 20th century examples, will lose a war before they are face to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-should-be-ready-for-non-contact-war-59327/

DefenceTalkIsrael and the Palestinians both drew criticism from the White House on Wednesday for tit-for-tat moves that have brought US-sponsored peace talks close to collapse. More than 15 months of shuttle diplomacy by Secretary of State John Kerry were in jeopardy after Israel made a new bid to expand settlements in annexed Arab east Jerusalem […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-criticises-israel-palestinians-for-jeopardising-talks-59245/

DefenceTalkThe West’s relations with Russia are at an historic low. This comes after years of NATO’s enlargement policy in Eastern Europe. Should the military alliance have acted more cautiously? Jamie Shea likes to reference knowledgeable people. In the context of the NATO enlargement process, he quotes Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who said: “All great […]https://www.defencetalk.com/is-nato-expansion-to-blame-for-crimean-crisis-59190/