DefenceTalkEU foreign ministers agreed Monday to spend an extra 500 million euros ($540 million) from their common coffers on arms for Ukraine, diplomats said, as Kyiv pleads for heavier weapons. The accord will take the total committed to supplying Ukraine’s military from common EU spending to 3.6 billion euros, which is separate from national spending […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-agrees-extra-500-mn-euros-to-arm-ukraine-79737/

DefenceTalkNATO on Monday launched its regular nuclear deterrence drills in western Europe, after tensions soared with Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s veiled threats in the face of setbacks in Ukraine. The 30-nation alliance has stressed that the “routine, recurring training activity” — which runs until October 30 — was planned before Moscow invaded Ukraine and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-holds-routine-nuclear-drill-amid-russia-tensions-79527/

DefenceTalkDozens of countries have supplied military support to Ukraine since Russia invaded it on February 24, either in the form of weapons, financial aid for arms purchases or military training. The United States is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Ukraine, followed by the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany. The Germany-based Kiel Institute […]https://www.defencetalk.com/arms-for-ukraine-us-pulls-ahead-europe-slows-79494/

DefenceTalkGermany is ready to take a leading role in ensuring Europe’s security, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Friday, vowing to transform the country’s military into the “best equipped” on the continent. Branding Vladimir Putin’s Russia the “biggest threat” to NATO, Scholz said Europe had to be prepared to face up to the challenge. “We are making […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-military-must-become-europes-best-equipped-scholz-79422/

DefenceTalkThe European Union said Tuesday it was studying Iran’s response to a “final” draft agreement on reviving a 2015 nuclear accord with major powers it presented at talks in Vienna. The United States had already said Monday that it was informing EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell of its response to the text he submitted […]https://www.defencetalk.com/eu-says-mulling-iran-response-to-final-nuclear-text-79206/

DefenceTalkNine Central and Eastern European countries on Friday asked NATO to strengthen its eastern flank following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The meeting of the leaders of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia was held in the Romanian capital Bucharest less than three weeks ahead of a NATO summit meeting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nine-european-countries-urge-nato-to-beef-up-eastern-flank-78949/

DefenceTalkGermany, France, Italy and Spain signed Thursday a 7.1-billion-euro contract to build and operate a fleet of surveillance drones, said Airbus, leader of the consortium of defence firms tapped for the project. Baptised Eurodrone, the twin-motor aircraft with a 30-metre wingspan similar to some commercial planes, will be able to carry out intelligence-gathering, surveillance as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/european-nations-sign-7-bn-euro-drone-contract-78097/

DefenceTalkUS troops arrived in Slovakia on Thursday to take part in a multinational training exercise amid regional tensions with Russia and as the NATO member struggles with anti-American sentiment. “The Saber Strike 22 exercise focuses on strengthening cooperation amongst NATO allies,” Slovak Chief of Defence, General Daniel Zmeko, told journalists. “This exercise will test our […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-troops-arrive-in-slovakia-for-exercise-77981/

DefenceTalkAnother 3,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will move to Europe in the coming days, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is temporarily repositioning 160 troops training Ukraine’s military out of the country. The moves come in the face of further signs of Russian escalation on its borders with Ukraine, said Jake […]https://www.defencetalk.com/more-u-s-troops-to-deploy-to-europe-guardsmen-reassigned-out-of-ukraine-77930/

DefenceTalkRussia on Friday prepared to hold fresh military exercises near Ukraine’s borders amid renewed diplomatic talks between the Kremlin and Europe, which fears an invasion of the ex-Soviet state. Moscow has around 100,000 troops stationed close to Ukraine’s frontier and Western leaders have scrambled to hold talks with Russia fearing an attack. The Russian defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-presses-on-with-war-games-along-ukraines-borders-77922/