DefenceTalkThe United States will send Ukraine four Himars artillery rocket systems, an additional 1,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles, and four Mi-17 helicopters in a new $700 million arms package, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Under Secretary of Defense Colin Kahl said Ukraine forces need about three weeks of training to be able to use the Himars, a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-us-aid-for-ukraine-himars-rockets-javelins-helicopters-78867/

DefenceTalkAny attempt to end Russia’s blockade of the Ukrainian port Odessa would be a “high-risk military operation”, top US General Mark Milley has said as he embarked on a European tour. Milley, speaking in London on Tuesday ahead of stops in Finland and Sweden as they bid to join NATO, noted Black Sea shipping lanes […]https://www.defencetalk.com/top-us-general-says-ending-black-sea-blockade-high-risk-78857/

DefenceTalkGermany will deliver to Ukraine an air defence system capable of shielding a “large city from Russian air raids”, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday, rejecting accusations that his government was slow to arm Kyiv. Berlin will be “sending more weapons” to Ukraine, Scholz told parliament. “The government has decided that we will send the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-to-deliver-air-defence-system-to-ukraine-scholz-78853/

DefenceTalkThe Kremlin on Wednesday accused Washington of “adding fuel to the fire” by planning to supply Ukraine with advanced missile systems. “We believe that the United States is adding fuel to the fire deliberately and on purpose,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Such supplies” do not encourage Kyiv to resume peace talks, Peskov said, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-adding-fuel-to-the-fire-with-new-arms-supplies-kremlin-78850/

DefenceTalkThe Kremlin said Thursday it was important to ensure basic living conditions in war-torn Ukraine as signs multiplied that Moscow was seeking to permanently occupy or even annex the pro-Western country’s southeast. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24 but Moscow has repeatedly stressed it is not seeking to occupy Ukrainian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/signs-multiply-russia-seeks-control-of-south-ukraine-78814/

DefenceTalkTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has threatened to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO, urged the alliance’s members on Wednesday to “respect” Ankara’s concerns about the two countries, which Turkey accuses of harboring terrorists. “Our only expectation from NATO allies is… to first understand our sensitivity, respect and finally support it,” Erdogan told […]https://www.defencetalk.com/erdogan-urges-nato-allies-to-respect-concerns-over-finland-sweden-78802/

DefenceTalkStanding in front of stacks of Javelin missiles at an Alabama factory, President Joe Biden told workers assembling the weapon, which has been wreaking havoc on Russian tanks in Ukraine, that they are part of a historic battle for democracy. “These weapons touched by the hands, your hands, are in the hands of Ukrainian heroes, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/biden-tours-anti-tank-missile-factory-urges-billions-for-ukraine-78757/

DefenceTalkUkraine’s Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on Wednesday said Kyiv faced “extremely difficult weeks” ahead, warning of major “destruction” in a developing Russian offensive in the east of the country. “Some extremely difficult weeks lie ahead,” Reznikov said in a statement on Facebook. “Russia has already gathered forces for a large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine,” he […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-faces-extremely-difficult-weeks-ahead-defence-minister-78745/

DefenceTalkBulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov will take members of his government coalition to Ukraine this week amid an ongoing row over voting on military aid for Kyiv that has shaken his cabinet. A coalition council late Tuesday confirmed that Petkov and representatives of three of the four parties in the ruling coalition — all except […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bulgaria-pm-allies-to-visit-ukraine-amid-military-aid-row-78726/

DefenceTalkUkraine called Wednesday for urgent negotiations with Russia in Mariupol, which appeared close to falling after weeks of siege, as Vladimir Putin flexed his military muscle with the test launch of a new, nuclear capable ICBM. Washington downplayed the test of the intercontinental ballistic missile and said it had been notified in advance, but Putin […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-calls-for-talks-in-teetering-mariupol-as-moscow-holds-icbm-test-78715/