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☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy is paying a visit to Belgium
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Marine Strauss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg walk on the day of a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Zelenskiy is in Belgium this Wednesday, Belgian media reported, where a meeting of NATO defence ministers is taking place. After Spain, Belgium will hold the European Union's rotating presidency for six months starting Jan 1 2024. Zelenskiy came to Brussels after a visit to Romania, where he called for steps to ensure Russia does not turn the Black Sea into a "dead zone" for shipping after Moscow quit a deal allowing safe Ukrainian grain exports. Reporting by Marine Strauss, Andrew Gray; Editing by Benoit Van OverstraetenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, NATO Jens Stoltenberg, Johanna Geron, Rustem Umerov, Yoav Gallant, Jens Stoltenberg, Lloyd Austin, Charles Q, Brown, Zelenskiy, Marine Strauss, Andrew Gray, Benoit Van Overstraeten Organizations: NATO, NATO Defence Ministers, REUTERS, Rights, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Israeli, Contact, Diplomats, Lloyd Austin and Air Force, U.S, U.S . Congress, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Rights BRUSSELS, Belgian, Ukraine, Vilnius, Finland, Estonia, Israel, Spain, Washington, Kyiv, Romania, Russia

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia and Saudi Arabia set to meet as Middle East crisis rattles oil markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil-producing giants Russia and Saudi Arabia are set to meet in Moscow Wednesday to discuss the oil market situation amid ongoing violence and geopolitical uncertainty between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Expect a flurry of international diplomacy in Europe today as allies meet to discuss the war, oil market stability and Israel. NATO defense ministers are due to meet in Brussels, as are Zelenskyy and officials from 54 nations supporting Ukraine as part of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The meeting comes amid signs of flagging support for continuing military aid Ukraine as the war drags on to its 19th month. The nascent war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas is also a distraction for Western leaders hoping to avoid a wider and more destabilizing Middle Eastern conflict.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Russia, Hamas, Western, NATO, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Air Locations: Saudi Arabia, Moscow, Israel, Palestinian, Europe, Gaza, Belgium, Brussels, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine receives $1.15 bln grant from US under World Bank program
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Olivier Matthys/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Ukraine received a $1.15 billion grant from the United States on Wednesday as part of the PEACE in Ukraine program, the Ukrainian finance ministry said. The PEACE (Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance) in Ukraine project has been the World Bank's flagship financing instrument for Kyiv during Russia's war on Ukraine. "In 2023, Ukraine has already received $10.9 billion in direct budget support from the United States in the form of grants," the finance ministry said. The project aims to compensate state budget expenditures in the social and humanitarian spheres, and is not intended for security or defence, the ministry said. The U.S. government has this year allocated $10.9 billion to finance Ukraine's state budget, it said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin III, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olivier Matthys, Serhiy Marchenko, Yuliia Dysa, Timothy Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, United States, Ukrainian, U.S

President Joe Biden reaffirmed his “unshakeable” commitment to defending Israel on Wednesday as concerns mount over the potential for nearby countries and militant groups to take advantage of the chaotic situation and broaden the conflict. And the horrors of Hamas’ Saturday attack continue to unfold, with reports of children found butchered in a kibbutz. As it stands, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, including at least 22 Americans. He said that the U.S. is well equipped to support Israel while also continuing to aid Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia. “We will stand firmly with Israel as we continue to support Ukraine.”

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, ”, “, It’s, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, he’ll, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Jake Sullivan, “ We’ve, they’ve, Sullivan, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ” Austin Organizations: Israel, Israeli, House Foreign Affairs, Iran, Republicans, Defense, Department of Defense, American, intel, Hamas, State Department, Hezbollah, White, National, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ukraine Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Iran, Louisiana, Lebanon, Lebanese, The U.S, Brussels, Ukraine, Russia

☆ U.S. is sending a carrier strike group closer to Israel and will begin supplying munitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Courtney Kube | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. military is moving an aircraft carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, and will also begin supplying Israel with munitions and other military supplies immediately, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Austin said Sunday afternoon that he had directed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to go to the Eastern Mediterranean. The group includes the carrier, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, and four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. "In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The U.S. is also working through plans for a possible non-combatant evacuation — helping Americans get out of Israel, according to the officials.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Austin, Gerald R, Arleigh Burke Organizations: Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Ukraine Defense Contact, Pentagon, Ford Carrier Strike Group, Ticonderoga, U.S Air Force, United, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Ukraine, Washington, U.S, Israel, United States, States

☆ US readies new Ukraine arms package despite tumult in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Nayev fires an American Browning M2 machine gun during a military exercise, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine September 27, 2023. Those funds have allowed the Biden administration to send Kyiv arms, supplies and munitions despite the exclusion of new Ukraine aid from a stopgap spending bill passed by the House of Representatives last weekend to prevent a government shutdown. Biden has vowed to replenish stocks of arms sent to Ukraine. The Biden administration is also considering using a State Department grant program to send Ukraine additional military aid, a U.S. official said. Democrats, who strongly support aid to Ukraine, insist that Congress will back continued assistance.

Persons: Ukraine Serhiy Nayev, Gleb Garanich, Biden, congressionally, Lockheed Martin, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Mike Stone, Rami Ayyub Organizations: Joint Forces of, Armed Forces, REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, Kyiv, Republicans, Ukraine Defense Contact, of Defense, General Dynamics, State Department, U.S, Republican, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, American, Kyiv region, Brussels, U.S

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged allied defense leaders Tuesday to “dig deep" and provide more air defense systems for Ukraine, to help the country block increasing barrages of Russian missiles. “Air defense is saving lives,” Austin said as he opened the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein air base in Germany. “So I urge this group to continue to dig deep on ground-based air defense for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly pushed for the longer-distance weapons. The Ramstein meeting also marks Milley's final session as U.S. joint chiefs chairman.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bill Blair, Austin, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, “, —, Mark Milley, Milley, Rob Bauer Organizations: RAMSTEIN AIR, —, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein, enrage, The Army Tactical Missile, Abrams, U.S . Defense, Washington , D.C, Republican, Nations, ” Military, Joint Chiefs of Staff, NATO Locations: Germany, Ukraine, U.S, enrage Moscow, Europe, Washington ,, Netherlands, Ramstein

From there, Milley will attend the monthly meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany on Tuesday. That group, led by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, is the main international forum for drumming up military support for Ukraine. But American lawmakers are increasingly divided over providing additional assistance for Ukraine as the war is well into its second year. President Joe Biden has proposed a package of $13.1 billion more in military aid and $8.5 billion for humanitarian support. Milley said the group will include defense chiefs from Britain, Norway, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Persons: Mark Milley, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, ” Milley, Kim, Milley, Lloyd Austin, Rob Bauer, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: American, NATO, U.S . Army, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, U.S . Defense, NATO Military Committee, U.S, Congress, Conservative Republicans, White House, Capitol, General, Global Locations: OSLO, Norway, North Korea, Ukraine, Russia, North, Russian, Moscow, Holmenkollen, Oslo, Germany, Netherlands, United States, Washington, U.S, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Britain, Italy, France, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Japan

☆ Exclusive: Ukraine could get long-range missiles armed with US cluster bombs - officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine is currently equipped with 155 mm artillery with a maximum range of 18 miles carrying up to 48 bomblets. The GMLRS rocket system, a version of which Ukraine has had in its arsenal for months, would be able to disperse up to 404 cluster munitions. At present Ukraine has only one U.S.-furnished cluster munitions, the 155 mm rounds that were announced in July. Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not signed onto the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans production, stockpiling, use and transfer of the weapons.

Persons: Biden, Dmytro Kuleba, Antony Blinken, Lockheed Martin, ATACMS, Joe Biden, Mike Stone, Chris Sanders, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Korean, Army Tactical Missile, United States Army, REUTERS, Rights, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Russian, Reuters, Russia, U.S . Army, Lockheed, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein Air Base, Cluster Munitions, Thomson Locations: United States, South Korea, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, Orikhiv, Germany, Russia, Washington

CNN —Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has tapped Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar, to become his next defense minister, replacing Oleksii Reznikov at a critical time for Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Umerov will have a bulging in-tray if and when the Ukrainian parliament approves his appointment. The Defense Minister is also Ukraine’s main interlocutor with western allies through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Zelensky chose Umerov for the top defense job even though Umerov is not a member of his political party, the Servant of the People. I also explained to colleagues that they should have no hesitation because the invaders are coming to kill.”Rustem Umerov is expected to become Ukraine's next defense minister.

Persons: CNN —, Volodymyr Zelensky, Rustem, Oleksii, Zelensky, Umerov, Stalin, Forbes, “, Catherine the Great, ”, Dogukan, Reznikov, –, impinge, ” Reznikov Organizations: CNN, Defense Ministry, Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, US, Group, State Property Fund, Center, Humanitarian Dialog, Turkish, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Ukrainian Emerging, Stanford University, Analysts, NATO, Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Twitter Locations: Crimean, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan, Crimea, Soviet, Russian, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian, Norway, Turkey

☆ Top US Air Force general was surprised that Russia 'gave up' trying to destroy Ukraine's Russian-designed air defenses so quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's limited use of its air force in Ukraine has surprised US Air Force leaders. Those leaders are surprised in large part because Ukraine is using air defenses that Russians designed. "I would say that I was somewhat surprised" by Russia's inability to control the air and knock out Ukrainian air defenses, Hecker said. Ukrainian forces are now using US-made Patriot missiles and the US-Norwegian-designed NASAMS to defend against long-range threats as well as several Western-designed systems for short-range air defense. US intelligence assessments leaked online this spring suggested Ukraine could expend its supply of surface-to-air missiles for several systems by mid-year.

Persons: James Hecker, " Hecker, Justin Bronk, Hecker, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Hecker, Charles Brown Jr, Brown, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Ed Ram Organizations: US Air Force, Service, Russian Air Force, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Russian Ministry of, Royal United Services Institute, Russian Sukhoi, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine, Ukrainian, International Institute of Strategic Studies, The Washington, Getty, Patriot, Russian, Ukraine Defense Contact Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Russian, Russia, British, Soviet, Norwegian, Kyiv

☆ U.S. to announce $1.3 bln in military aid for Ukraine -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - The United States will announce a new pledge to buy $1.3 billion worth of military aid for Kyiv in its conflict with Russia in the coming days, two U.S. officials said. The previously unreported weapons package includes air defenses, counter-drone systems, exploding drones and ammunition, one of the U.S. officials said. The United States is using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program, which allow President Joe Biden's administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from U.S. weapons stocks. The Pentagon has provided more than $10.8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine under the USAI in fiscal 2023, in seven separate tranches. Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington Editing by Don Durfee and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden's, AVEVEX, Australia's DroneShield, Washington, Mike Stone, Don Durfee, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Kyiv, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, L3Harris Technologies, AeroVironment Inc, U.S . Department, Ukraine Defense Contact, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: United, Russia, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, California, Washington

☆ NATO's chief is talking openly about alliance membership for Ukraine as Putin's war continues to shoot Russia in the foot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has long sought NATO membership, something Vladimir Putin deeply opposes. Ukraine has long sought NATO membership. As early as April 2008, NATO said it "welcomed" aspirations from Ukraine and Georgia — the latter was attacked by Russia later that year — to join the military alliance. Finland officially became the 31st member of the military alliance earlier this month, a huge setback for Putin. in a Friday tweet that included a link to a media report about Stoltenberg telling Zelenskyy Ukraine belongs in NATO.

☆ Allies move to bolster Ukrainian tank forces ahead of counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine has pressed its allies for long-range weapons, jets and ammunition ahead of a counteroffensive to push back Russian troops that is expected in the coming weeks or months. Abrams battle tanks will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks for Ukrainian troops to begin training, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters. NATO member states and their allies have provided Ukraine with weapons and armour, but Ukraine's leadership has repeatedly asked for more powerful weapons and quicker supplies. "The Russians are cautious to come into Ukraine because of the effective use of the Ukrainian air defense system. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban poured cold water on Ukraine's NATO prospects, simply tweeting "What?!"

☆ Ukraine's fighter jet fleet is slowly growing, but its weapons to bring down Russian jets are dwindling, leaked US document shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The jets will bolster Ukraine's fighter fleet, which is still under fire from Russia's larger air force. But air-defense ammunition is a more urgent need, one underscored in recently leaked US documents. Berlin approved Warsaw's request to send jets to Ukraine on Thursday, the same day it was received. Both air forces have shifted tactics and now operate farther from the front line, playing to the advantage of the Russian aircraft, which have an edge at longer ranges. Without the threat posed by those interceptor missiles, Russian aircraft would have greater freedom to attack Ukrainian aircraft and bomb Ukrainian targets, including in support of Russian front-line troops, the leaked document says.

Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty ImagesAn embarrassing leak of highly classified Pentagon documents has endangered intelligence methods, exposed American strategy and undermined trust among U.S. allies, former defense department officials and intelligence experts tell CNBC. America's control over its most valuable secrets has been thrust into question amid the fallout from the most damaging intelligence leak since Edward Snowden's breach more than a decade ago. 'Devastating' for American alliesThe major security breach also contained intelligence gathering on American allies, including South Korea and Israel. "Our allies can't trust us … That's why the Middle East, they're talking to the Chinese. one American defense industry executive told CNBC, speaking anonymously due to professional restrictions.

WASHINGTON, March 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. surveillance drone brought down over the Black Sea after a Russian military intercept probably broke apart and would be difficult to recover given the depth of the water in the area, the top U.S. general said on Wednesday. Russia's defense ministry blamed "sharp maneuvering" by the drone for the crash and said its jet did not make contact. Milley said the United States had already taken measures to guard against a loss of sensitive intelligence if the drone were to be recovered by Russia. The State Department on Tuesday summoned Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, to express U.S. concerns over the encounter. Antonov after the meeting said the drone "deliberately and provocatively was moving toward Russian territory with transponders turned off."

☆ U.S. drone may not be recovered from Black Sea after Russian interception -White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Doina Chiacu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In the first such incident since the Ukraine war began, Russian Su-27 jets struck the propeller of the unmanned drone and made it inoperable, the Pentagon said. Russia's defense ministry blamed "sharp maneuvering" of the drone for the crash and said that its jets did not make contact. The State Department on Tuesday summoned Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, to express U.S. concerns over the encounter. Antonov after the meeting said that the drone "deliberately and provocatively was moving toward Russian territory with transponders turned off." American officials have stressed that the United States would continue to fly over international waters in the area.

☆ Ukrainian pilots are calling the US Air Force for tips on using US-made missiles and bombs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Members of the US Air National Guard have been providing advice for using US-made weaponry. Despite US support, Ukraine's air force is still at a disadvantage against Russia's larger force. Ukraine's air force still faces a tough operating environment. A California Air National Guard officer discusses exercise Safe Skies with his Ukrainian counterparts in July 2011. Ukrainian Air Force via Twitter"We've just got them some precision munitions that have some extended range and go a little bit further than a gravity-dropped bomb," Hecker added.

☆ Ukraine, U.S. defence heads talk "priorities" for allies' meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 12 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov discussed "priorities", including air defence and artillery, for upcoming meetings of Kyiv's allies in Brussels, both sides said late on Saturday. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group will meet on Tuesday at the NATO headquarters, following upon a Jan. 20 conference at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany that was key for the decisions to send tanks. Austin and Reznikov discussed the importance of delivering promised capabilities as quickly as possible, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, said in a statement. After the call, Reznikov tweeted that "the United States is unwavering in its support of Ukraine," adding that the two also discussed the situation on the front line. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Here's the big deal with the German-made Leopard tanks and why Ukraine desperately wants them
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

One tank Kyiv really wants is the German-made Leopard, but it hasn't been able to get them. These formidable main battle tanks would provide a massive firepower boost on the battlefield. Ukraine is getting many of the items on its wish list, but it hasn't been able to get its hands on the German-made Leopard tanks it wants. The country's president previously said he wanted to send the tanks to Ukraine as part of an "international coalition." Fast, mobile, and well-armedThe Leopard 2 is Germany's main battle tank developed by defense firm Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

☆ Ukraine has repeatedly pleaded for tanks to fight Russia — its Western allies could now be ready to provide them
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesUkraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies to provide it with battle tanks to help it fight Russia but up until now, its Western allies appeared reluctant to do so, fearing the provision of offensive weapons could provoke Moscow further. Last week, the White House again declined to say whether the U.S. would specifically provide Ukraine with main battle tanks. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesThe impasse over tanks seemed to break when the U.K. announced at the weekend that it would be sending 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. Poland's President Andrzej Duda reiterated his calls for Ukraine to receive more Western tanks when he appeared on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Ukrainian armed forces' soldiers drive a T-72 tank on the outskirts of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine on December 21, 2022.

☆ Russia-Ukraine War U.S. Rushes to Secure Aid for Ukraine to Repair Energy Grid Before Winter
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

On Tuesday, American officials pledged to give Ukraine $53 million to repair the electrical grid, and sought to rally other allies to make similar offers. Western officials say the Ukrainian energy reconstruction campaign should be considered a second front in the war. In April, not long after Russian troops swept into Ukraine, American officials marshaled dozens of allies to furnish Ukraine with long-term military aid, and organized the countries into the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The United States is organizing a working group to help Ukraine repair energy equipment and to better defend its power plants and grid from attack. That energy “contact group” is centered on those nations and their close partners, and is expected to meet again next month in Paris.

☆ U.S. says Russia's war in Ukraine offers preview to potential global tyranny
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said failure to help Ukraine secure its own future could lead to a "world of tyranny and turmoil," in a speech on Saturday that sought to lay out the stakes in the war for the international community. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a news briefing after participating a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 16, 2022. REUTERS/Tom BrennerAustin's remarks, delivered at a security forum in Canada, were some of his most powerful to date on Russia's nearly nine-month-old invasion. And they could well conclude that getting nuclear weapons would give them a hunting license of their own. And that could drive a dangerous spiral of nuclear proliferation," Austin said.

☆ U.S. says Russia's Ukraine invasion offered preview to potential global tyranny
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Phil Stewart | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 19 (Reuters) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine has offered a preview of "a possible world of tyranny and turmoil," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday in a speech to a security forum in Canada. Moscow hopes to exhaust Ukraine's missile defenses, and buy time to reset its forces, Pentagon officials say. The United States and its allies have helped provide arms, intelligence and training to Ukrainian forces, while stopping short of directly intervening in a war against nuclear-armed Russia. And they could well conclude that getting nuclear weapons would give them a hunting license of their own," Austin said. Austin said the United States was drawing on the lessons of Ukraine to "bolster the self-defense capabilities of our Indo-Pacific partners."

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