Latest news with #militaryaid
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine plugs its Western-made weapons into ‘NATO Wi-Fi'
Kiev has been allowed to join a NATO-standard coordination network which connects together Western-made military hardware, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Katerina Chernohorenko has announced. The system, in particular, is compatible with F-16s and Mirage 2000 fighter jets. On Saturday, Chernohorenko revealed that Ukraine had signed a license agreement to begin using the Command and Control Center System Interface (CSI), a non-commercial digital platform employed by most NATO member states for air and missile coordination and improved interoperability. The official pointed out that the system operates through NATO's Link-16 data protocol – which she referred to as 'military Wi-Fi.' She added that the protocol facilitates coordination between fighter jets such as US-made F-16s and French-made Mirage 2000s, as well as air defense systems like the Patriot, all of which have been supplied to Ukraine as military aid. Ukraine received its first F-16s from its European backers last summer, although the process had been slower than expected due to logistics and pilot training issues. While some officials in Kiev initially hoped it would become a 'game changer' on the battlefield, the military later acknowledged it could not rival the most advanced Russian jets. In total, Kiev was promised more than 80 F-16s, many of which are expected to arrive in the years to come. Since the start of deliveries, at least three Ukrainian-operated F-16s have been confirmed destroyed. As for the French-made Mirage 2000s, which are capable of carrying long-range Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles, Ukraine only received the first batch this winter, with the number of planes to be delivered estimated at six. Kiev has confirmed their deployment in combat, but reported no losses. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukrainian-operated F-16s will 'burn' just like other Western-supplied equipment. Moscow has also consistently denounced Western military aid to Kiev, arguing it will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Berlin offers Kiev another €5 billion
Berlin will provide Kiev with another €5 billion ($5.6 billion) in military aid on top of the €28 billion it has given since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in early 2022, the German Defense Ministry has announced. Moscow has stated in response that further assistance to Ukraine could precipitate the 'collapse' of Germany. The funds promised by Berlin would principally be used to 'finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine,' the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov, who arrived in Berlin together with Vladimir Zelensky, signed a defense cooperation deal between the two countries. 'A significant number' of long-range weapon systems can be manufactured inside Ukraine this year, the statement read without specifying the types of arms. The first of those weapons could be deployed by Kiev against Russian forces 'in just a few weeks' as Ukrainian troops are already familiar with them and will not require additional training, it added. The €5 billion would also cover German deliveries of ammunition, including for air defense systems, small arms and medical equipment, the ministry said. During a joint press conference with Zelensky on Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Berlin and Kiev 'want to ensure joint production' of long-range armaments, but declined to reveal any details. There will be no range restrictions on the weapons and Kiev will be allowed to attack targets outside its own territory, he stressed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reacted to Merz's statement by saying that Berlin's 'direct involvement in the war is now obvious.' 'Germany is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse,' Lavrov stressed, referring to the defeats suffered by the country in the First and Second World wars. Moscow has repeatedly insisted that Western arms deliveries to Ukraine will not stop it from reaching its military objectives, but will only prolong the conflict and raise the risk of a confrontation with NATO. The Kremlin warned that the latest 'provocative actions' by EU states could derail the US-brokered diplomatic process between Russia and Ukraine, which restarted last month after a three-year break.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Germany to Help Kyiv Build Long-Range Missiles
Germany has agreed to provide Ukraine with €5 billion ($5.7 billion) in military aid as part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's pledge to help Kyiv build long-range weapons to hit targets on Russian territory. With support from the US under President Donald Trump waning and efforts at peace negotiations with Russia's Vladimir Putin stalling, the funding issue is paramount. Zelenskiy has called on western allies to provide $30 billion by the end of the year to boost domestic weapons production and hold off Russia's advance.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
German leader offers to help Ukraine develop long-range missiles to hit Russia
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their range and target options as the Kyiv government fights to repel Russia's invasion. Some of the advanced weapon systems that Kyiv's Western partners have supplied to Ukraine during the more than three-year war were subject to range and target restrictions. Advertisement The limits have been a fraught political issue, stemming from fears that if the weapons struck Russia, the Kremlin might retaliate against the country that provided them and suck Nato into Europe's biggest conflict since the Second World War. Mr Zelensky is seeking continued support from allies (AP) Mr Merz said in Berlin, alongside visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, that under an intensified cooperation agreement Germany 'will strive to equip the Ukrainian army with all the capabilities that truly enable it to successfully defend the country', including upgraded domestic missile production. Germany has been the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States. 'Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself including against military targets outside its own territory' with its own missiles, Mr Merz said at a joint news conference. Advertisement The German leader's pledge came as the past few months of intense US-led peace efforts have brought no significant breakthrough, and with analysts saying Russia is poised to launch a major summer offensive. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul is set to meet in Washington with US secretary of state Marco Rubio later on Wednesday. Mr Merz declined to say whether Germany will supply its advanced Taurus long-range cruise missile to Ukraine – a longstanding request by Kyiv, and a step that Berlin has resisted. Asked about Germany's offer to fund long-range missile production in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that the move was an obstacle to reaching a peace agreement. Advertisement Both Mr Merz and Mr Zelensky criticized the Kremlin's effective rejection of an unconditional ceasefire proposed by the US, which Kyiv accepted, and its delay in responding to proposals for a settlement. Mr Merz said last Monday that Germany and other major allies were no longer imposing range limits on weapons they send to Ukraine, though he indicated their use was limited to Russian military targets. Then-US president Joe Biden late last year authorised Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike deeper into Russia. The decision allowed Ukraine to use the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, against Russia. Advertisement In Berlin, Mr Zelensky called for deeper defence cooperation across Europe and with the United States, stressing the need for long-range capabilities and sustained military funding to ensure Ukraine's resilience. 'We need sufficient long-range capabilities. That's why we must be certain of the financing of our army and the stability of Ukraine,' he said. Mr Zelensky is seeking to bolster support for the war effort (AP) He added that the cooperation projects already exist. 'We simply want (the missiles) to be produced in the quantity we need,' Mr Zelensky told the news conference. On Tuesday, the Ukrainian President said he is ready to hold peace talks at the highest level, including a trilateral meeting with himself, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump. Advertisement 'We are ready to meet at the level of leaders. Both the American side knows this, and the Russian side knows this,' he said. Mr Zelensky said he would accept any configuration of talks, whether that includes one trilateral meeting or separate meetings with Trump. Mr Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that Russia is grateful to Trump for his mediation efforts. 'At the same time, there is a big number of nuances to be discussed that can't be neglected and which neither party is going to sacrifice, because of its national interests,' Peskov told reporters. 'Just like the United States, Russia has its national interests that are of primary importance to us.' He said that Moscow will 'soon' deliver its promised memorandum on a framework for a peace settlement. Meanwhile, fighting has continued along the roughly 620-mile front line, where Ukraine's army is shorthanded against its bigger adversary. Mr Zelensky claimed Russia is mobilising up to 45,000 men every month, while Ukraine mobilises between 25,000-27,000. Both sides are continuing to conduct deep strikes. Russia launched its biggest drone attack of the war against Ukraine on Sunday. Russian air defences downed 296 Ukrainian drones over 13 Russian regions late on Tuesday and early Wednesday, Russia's defence ministry said, in what appeared to be one of the biggest Ukrainian drone assaults of the war.
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Germany Agrees on €5 Billion in Fresh Military Aid to Ukraine
Germany agreed to provide €5 billion in fresh military aid to Ukraine, the Defense Ministry in Berlin said in a statement on Wednesday.
