Zelenskyy’s new top commander has a reputation as a ‘butcher’ – POLITICO

“We all have one goal. We must win the war and for that, we must eliminate the current problems of the Ukrainian army: logistics, rotation, and supplies. We, for some reason, have many troops that are very far away from the front. Overstaffed headquarters,” said the official in the presidential office. “Syrskyi will have carte … Read more

Canada sending more equipment to Ukraine as full-scale war with Russia nears 2-year mark

Canada is contributing another $35 million worth of military equipment to Ukraine as the embattled Eastern European country’s allies meet to discuss its future needs, and as Russia’s full invasion edges toward the two-year mark. Defence Minister Bill Blair, who participated in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting via video link, said Canada is providing 10 … Read more

Putin willing to visit North Korea at ‘early date,’ Pyongyang says – POLITICO

Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering visiting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang soon, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday, as the two countries seek closer ties against a backdrop of increasing pressure from the West. Putin “expressed his willingness to visit [North Korea] at an early date,” the outlet … Read more

Taiwan at election crossroads as war threat looms – POLITICO

This story was originally published in German by WELT, a sister publication of POLITICO in the Axel Springer Group. Nate Lin wants to be prepared for war.  On a Saturday morning in November, Lin, a 35-year-old Taiwanese man, practices how to apply a tourniquet to his right arm. In this fictive scenario, he’s been shot and … Read more

Breton aims for ‘huge’ €100B defense fund – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton wants to set up a massive €100 billion EU defense fund, he said on Tuesday.  He’s slated to present the European Defence Investment Program (EDIP) on February 27, a cash pot aimed at boosting joint weapons procurement and putting the EU on more of a war footing by … Read more

Israel begins partial drawdown of troops from Gaza – POLITICO

The Israeli military has started withdrawing units from Gaza, indicating that a new phase of the war has begun, though officials said the conflict is far from over. “Some of the reservists will return to their families and employment this week,” an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said. The decision to move soldiers out of Gaza … Read more

Ukraine digs in as the West stumbles to keep up with Russian war production

“War,” said British philosopher, mathematician and pacifist Bertrand Russell, “does not determine who is right — only who is left.” Those words might be the perfect lens through which to view what probably lies ahead for Ukraine in the coming year as its troops dig in — and dig deep — along a front roughly 960 kilometres wide. … Read more