DefenceTalkA Ukrainian warplane was blown out of the sky over rebel-held territory Wednesday as fierce clashes between government troops and pro-Russian insurgents left dozens of civilians dead. Fighting intensified as Kiev appeared to ramp up a deadly offensive to crush the ailing rebellion in the east ahead of a fresh round of diplomacy that will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-warplane-shot-down-as-clashes-kill-dozens-60408/

DefenceTalkFrance’s contract to sell a pair of Mistral aircraft carriers to Moscow has come under fire in recent months, as relations between the West and Russia have deteriorated over Ukraine. Last month, President Barack Obama said it would be preferable if France pushed the “pause button” on the deal. “I have expressed some concerns, and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-criticized-for-warships-contract-with-russia-60248/

DefenceTalkU.S. Army Europe and its regional partners in the Baltic region kicked off the joint, combined multinational military exercise Saber Strike 2014 at the Adazi Training Area, June 9. The exercise, scheduled to conclude June 20, spans multiple locations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and involves approximately 4,500 personnel from 10 countries. Latvia, the host […]https://www.defencetalk.com/exercise-saber-strike-14-demonstrates-international-cooperation-59841/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force has deployed two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers to a British air base for exercises with NATO allies, the Pentagon said Monday. The deployment, which the Pentagon said was preplanned and short-term, comes against a backdrop of tension with Russia over unrest in Ukraine. “It certainly is yet another demonstration of America’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-deploys-2-b-2-bombers-to-europe-for-exercises-59824/

DefenceTalkNATO European allies must dedicate more money to defense spending, and all are ready to do their part in the follow-on operation in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said at NATO headquarters in Brussels today. The secretary spoke at a news conference after meetings with alliance defense ministers. Russia’s actions in and around Ukraine were […]https://www.defencetalk.com/hagel-urges-european-nato-members-to-boost-defense-budgets-59777/

DefenceTalkNATO and Russia had a “very frank” exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis Monday but found no common ground in the first such meeting since Moscow annexed Crimea, officials said. “I can say it was a very frank exchange of views,” alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council which […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-russia-fundamentally-differ-over-ukraine-crisis-59767/

DefenceTalkThe United States is demonstrating its continued commitment to collective security through a series of actions designed to reassure NATO allies and partners of America’s dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region, in light of the Russian intervention in Ukraine, a senior Pentagon official said. “Increased air, land and sea deployments to eastern […]https://www.defencetalk.com/actions-underscore-worldwide-commitment-official-says-59754/

DefenceTalkA Cyprus reunification deal would generate a 20-billion-euro ($27.2 billion) peace dividend for the recession-hit island, according to a study released Thursday. The study predicts an elusive UN-brokered peace deal would raise per capita incomes by approximately 12,000 euros, expand the size of the economy by around 20 billion euros and add an average 2.8 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cyprus-settlement-worth-20-billion-euros-59727/

DefenceTalkRussia’s recent adventurism in Europe, most notably the massing of armor and mechanized units along the border with Ukraine, has prompted defense officials in Europe and the United States to do something they haven’t done in nearly twenty years: assess the balance of military power on the continent. While most public discussions of the changing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/should-europe-rebuild-tank-forces-59713/

DefenceTalkThe US Navy is sending a guided missile cruiser to the Black Sea, the Pentagon said Tuesday, the latest bid by Washington to to reassure allies worried over Russia’s intervention in Ukraine. “I can confirm the Vella Gulf, a Navy cruiser, will be going in to the Black Sea probably later this week,” Pentagon spokesman […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-sends-another-warship-to-the-black-sea-59648/