Latest news with #Russo-Ukrainian
New Indian Express
17 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Ukraine vs Russia: Lessons from the first drone war
Reams have been written about the strategies in the recent India-Pakistan border conflict. But fewer words have been expended on a core aspect of this war: drones—their use; their different deployments by the two countries; the cost to each country centred on the kinds of drones used; and, most importantly, how the war drones in this conflict fit into various streams of global developments in warfare. The credit for 'the first drone war' goes to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict. The India-Pakistan faceoff was just another bead in a long chain that began 176 years ago, when pilotless hot-air balloons bombed Venice during the 1848-49 Italian revolution. It took 68 years to progress from the wind to radio-control—an 'aerial torpedo' against zeppelins and submarines designed by Archibald Low, the 'father of aerial guidance systems'. In 1935, the de Havilland DH.82 Queen Bee made its debut—a yellow-and-black liveried, radio-controlled biplane that not only became a testbed for future designs but also fathered the appellation 'drone'. During the Second World War, the US Navy converted four-engined B-24 Liberator bombers to radio-control for bombing missions. During the Cold War, the US used AQM-34 Firebee for photography missions over China and Vietnam, with China shooting down one in 1964. Iraq first used its ubiquitous Mohajer-1 for battlefield surveillance in 1986, explosively multiplying the use of drones in West Asia. But these were large and spottable, and therefore more stoppable. Today, drones come in all shapes and sizes, from palm-width playthings to quadcopters and hexacopters that can be assembled by non-state actors—such as guerrillas in Myanmar and insurgents in Syria. In Myanmar, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force uses drones made with 3D printers and mechanics stripped from Chinese pesticide-sprayers. In Syria, the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now in power, began producing winged drones in 2019. In Gaza, Hamas used hobbyists' first-person-view (FPV) drones to scope out Israeli border posts.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
German chancellor to travel to US to meet with Trump
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Washington next week for his first visit since taking office, where he is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump. Source: Politico, a Brussels-based politics and policy news organisation, citing the German government press service, as reported by European Pravda Details: Merz will travel to the US on 4 May for his first visit under the new German government. His meeting with Trump is set for Thursday 5 June, followed by a joint press conference. At the meeting with Trump, they will discuss the Russo-Ukrainian war, the situation in the Middle East and trade issues. Background: Merz has repeatedly engaged in public disputes with the US administration, particularly after criticism from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance regarding the classification of the far-right Alternative for Germany party as right-wing extremist. Merz stressed that neither Germany nor he personally interfered in the US election campaign or supported any candidate, and he expects the same attitude from the American administration. This week, the German chancellor stated that Europe is ready to fight for its fundamental values – freedom and democracy – thus responding to repeated criticism of the EU by the Trump administration and, in particular, Vice President Vance's infamous speech at the Munich Security Conference. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
German foreign minister: We are no longer in state of clear peace with Russia
Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul believes that his country is no longer in a state of clear peace with Russia due to ongoing hybrid attacks from Moscow. Source: Wadephul in an interview with German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, as reported by European Pravda Details: Wadephul noted that, given Russian acts of sabotage and cyberattacks, it is necessary to consider possible response measures. "I would avoid using the term 'war', but we are no longer in a situation of clear peace. We must find new methods to deal with this," Wadephul said. He cited situations where drones fly over military facilities or when critical infrastructure is destroyed outside German territory. Quote: "Do we have the right to take action against this, do we have the right to defend ourselves? This needs to be settled. We must be able to defend ourselves fully." Background: Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Russia's behaviour in negotiations over the Russo-Ukrainian war indicates the Kremlin's desire to drag out time rather than to reach a real peace agreement. Merz also said that his country and its partners are determined to defend the entire territory of NATO. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy-Putin-Trump meeting may take place after second Istanbul talks, says Turkish Foreign Ministry
During his visit to Kyiv on Friday 30 May, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said that Türkiye is proposing to host a meeting between the leaders of the United States, Russia and Ukraine to bring the war in Ukraine closer to an end after potential second talks in Istanbul. Source: European Pravda, citing Hurriyet Daily News, a Turkish English-language newspaper Details: Fidan said Türkiye believes negotiations involving the three leaders and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could occur following possible second talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, which may take place next week. Quote from Fidan: "We sincerely think that it is possible to cap the first and second direct Istanbul talks with a meeting between Mr. Trump, Mr. Putin and Mr. Zelenskyy, under the direction of Mr. Erdoğan. Progress is certainly possible if we remain at the negotiating table." Background: Earlier this week, Fidan held talks with senior officials in Moscow, particularly Putin. The Kremlin said on Friday that Putin would consider a summit with Zelenskyy, Trump and Erdoğan only if talks with Kyiv yielded results. Moreover, Fidan said in Kyiv that the Russo-Ukrainian war is approaching a turning point. Earlier, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry noted that in Kyiv, Fidan had shared the results of his visit to Moscow. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany commits €5bn to Ukraine for weapons and air defence
German Defence Ministers Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umierov have signed an agreement in Berlin to finance the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine as part of a broader support package totalling approximately €5 billion. Source: German Defence Ministry, as reported by European Pravda Details: Umierov visited Berlin as part of a Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which several key agreements were reached. Germany will fund the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine, with the first systems expected to be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the coming weeks. These systems are already in service, allowing immediate deployment without additional training. The German Ministry of Defence noted that a significant number of weapons systems could be produced in 2025, though details were not disclosed. Germany will also continue to supply artillery shells, air defence systems, ground weapons and small arms. A contract was signed with the German defence company Diehl for the supply of air defence systems and related munitions. Germany plans to invest in repair infrastructure, including the establishment of repair facilities in Ukraine through a joint venture between Ukrainian and German defence companies. Support will also be provided in the fields of communications and medicine. "These measures to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine amount to approximately €5 billion. The funds are drawn from the budget already approved by the Bundestag," the German Ministry of Defence stated. Background: On Wednesday 28 May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced an expansion of military assistance to Ukraine but provided limited details, reflecting a new policy of restricted information about military support to Kyiv. Merz also vowed to do everything to prevent the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from operating. Merz also said that Russia's behaviour in negotiations over the Russo-Ukrainian war indicates the Kremlin's desire to stall rather than to reach a real peace agreement. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
