#Defense Policy

In recent weeks, the Pentagon has urged Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to soften their public rhetoric toward Russia, believing that harsh statements by European leaders undermine continental security.

Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Armin Laschet says Germany has exhausted its capacity to support Ukraine's air defense, noting there is 'no room for maneuvering.' He also called for de-escalation and maintaining ties with Washington.

French Minister-Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Addad called on the EU to move to flexible coalitions of 6–10 countries to accelerate rearmament and single-market integration, without waiting for the consensus of all 27 members.

Estonia has begun negotiations with France on joining the Paris initiative to strengthen nuclear deterrence. Prime Minister Kristen Michal called deepening nuclear cooperation "likely" against the backdrop of similar steps by Lithuania, Finland, and Poland.

The Financial Times has revealed the work of the "Sonderstab Ukraine" — a closed team inside Germany's Defense Ministry that closes weapons contracts for Kyiv in two weeks and is responsible for €11.5 billion in annual aid.

Lithuanian parliamentarians rejected the Kremlin's threats over the possible deployment of nuclear weapons, calling them a tool of psychological pressure. Vilnius emphasizes that NATO membership already makes the country a target of Moscow.

A year after the certification of seven private GRC schools, not a single one has received a hryvnia of state compensation: the voucher mechanism has not been launched due to the absence of an official order from the General Staff.

Former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi has reportedly enrolled in the doctoral program of the National Defence University of Ukraine to systematize the experience of the war. No official statement from the general has followed.

Berlin has announced an expansion of the Bundeswehr mission at UN Command headquarters in South Korea: from September 2026 the contingent will grow from one to two service members. The move coincided with a crisis in US–South Korean relations over Trump's demands.

Roman Kostenko, Secretary of the Rada's defense committee, stated that "radical" changes to the conscription age and the mobilization procedure are being discussed in Ukraine. The specific parameters of the reform are not disclosed, and a transition to voluntary conscription is ruled out.

Israel intends to request from the US information on the ultra-secret sixth-generation fighter F-47, which it learned about during negotiations on the memorandum with Iran. This may signal a shift in Washington's policy on ally access to advanced technologies.

The strength of the Bundeswehr has reached 186,700 — a 13-year record. Growth is driven by a new recruitment system and plans to open five military bases by 2035.

🇵🇱 A scandal has erupted in Poland: ex-minister Błaszczak called the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine a security threat, but the MoD responded harshly — calling his stance "madness". 🚀 Key facts: • Błaszczak: Missiles are needed to protect Polish families, not to be given away. • MoD: It is safer to shoot down missiles over Ukraine than to wait for them over Warsaw. • Trigger: The July 30 incident when a Russian missile violated Polish airspace. • Volumes: The issue concerns a few PAC-3 missiles. 📉 This is a new round of struggle in Warsaw: opposition vs. Tusk's government. #Poland #Ukraine #Patriot #Błaszczak

🚨 Vladimir Putin visited the disputed island of Iturup for the first time since 2014. The visit was a response to Japan's 'White Paper,' where Russia was named a threat. Tokyo summoned the ambassador and is preparing new sanctions. Ukraine supported Japan. #Putin #Iturup #Japan #Sanctions

🚨 Trump orders US Navy to return to steam catapults! Dismantling EMALS on aircraft carriers will cost billions. The fourth Ford-class ship will be redesigned. #Trump #USNavy #AircraftCarriers

🚨 South Korea officially refused to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. Seoul cites domestic legislation and the threat from North Korea and Russia. Instead of weapons — humanitarian aid. 🇰🇷🇺🇦 #SouthKorea #Ukraine #NorthKorea #AirDefense

🚀 Zelenskyy approved new strikes on Russia: part of the operations adjusted, part approved. Discussed air defense, the front, and the role of intelligence services. In the first half of 2026, 697 targets were hit in the RF. 🇺🇦🔥

Volodymyr Zelensky stated that supplies of anti-ballistic missiles have decreased threefold since the beginning of 2026. The President links this to the war in the Middle East and political pressure from the West, the goal of which is to make Kyiv more "compliant." 🇺🇦🚀