NATO warships near Serbia
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
NATO ships near Serbia: What is it about? They spoke up
B92, Jan 24 2023The ships of NATO member states, the USS “James E Williams” and the Turkish “Barbados“, will sail into the Port of Bar [Montenegro] today, the Ministry of Defense announced. The statement said that the goal of the visit is “strengthening defense relations in the region and strengthening maritime security in the waters of NATO member states.” The US ship, it is added, is the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2).
Defeat of Russia: US-EU-NATO threaten Serbia over Kosovo
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
Vucic: Serbia has received an Ultimatum from the West to Normalize Relations with Kosovo
Novinite, Jan 24 2023Serbia has received an ultimatum from leading Western countries to normalize relations with Kosovo, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. At a meeting last week, representatives of the EU, the US, France, Germany and Italy threatened Serbia with the disruption of European integration, the suspension and withdrawal of investments and comprehensive economic and political measures that would cause great damage to the Republic of Serbia if Belgrade did not accept the offer. Vucic did not elaborate on what it included, but stressed that without the EU, Serbia would be “isolated.” He added that the Assembly in Belgrade will have to discuss the proposal and hinted at a possible referendum. Vucic also said that the presented plan was prepared two months ago and was “recognized by all EU countries, including the five that did not recognize Kosovo.” According to Vucic, this plan is “part of the pressure of the West” to solve the Kosovo problem and is the result of the “changed geopolitical circumstances” because “the West has its own agenda, which includes the defeat of Russia and everything that stands in the way on this agenda, will be crushed,” Vucic said.
Vučić: I am worried; “They are looking for a conflict”
B92, Jan 23 2023President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said tonight that he was afraid that no one wanted to talk about the context, the circumstances and what Serbia is really facing when referring to the Franco-German plan for Kosovo and Metohija. “We have all seen versions of the Franco-German plan. It is no longer just theirs, and we will talk about that later. When you look at a paper, you easily find objections, and there is nothing in this paper that we can be enthusiastic about. The question arises why? The fact is that the geopolitical circumstances have changed, Europe is in a de facto war. There is no tolerance for discrepancies in the political sense, and on the other hand, they want that in their yard, and we are also their yard, they want everything there to be as they want,” he said. As he stated, the complete European context is such that, if we look carefully, after the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, everything has become one of the biggest problems for us. He also recalled the incidents that Albin Kurti causes in order to try to drag Serbia into the conflict. “In Kurti’s time, there have been 287 incidents so far. This year alone, 10 serious ones. The latest is today’s wounding of Miljan D, who is in a stable condition and we wish him a speedy recovery,” he said and explained that Kurti wants a conflict so that NATO takes his side. He pointed out that the foreigners were more worried that Rada Trajković spent two hours sitting on the bench, than about the attack on the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. As he stated, no one asked or consulted Serbia regarding the drafting of the Franco-German plan. “Without any guilt. Not a single Albanian was shot. We did nothing anywhere, and they came and showed the plan. The fact that there is an obligation not to oppose the entry of the so-called Kosovo into the UN is hidden,” he said and added: “They accepted all of that and that plan de facto became a new negotiating framework for the Republic of Serbia,” he said.
Ukraine: Germany spearheads delivery of 90 tanks from NATO allies, partners
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
German authorities, their allies intend to transfer almost 90 tanks to Ukraine – Scholz
Interfax-Ukraine, Jan 25 2023The German authorities are aiming to transfer two tank battalions with Leopard 2 to Ukraine, but they will do it not alone, and together with partners, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said. “Our goal is to transfer tanks for two battalions together with our allies,” he said, speaking in the German parliament on Wednesday. AP clarifies it’s about 88 tanks. “Many countries want to join our initiative. We will coordinate this process,” Scholz said. Earlier on Wednesday, the German authorities decided to transfer the first batch of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Also, the German authorities will give the allies permission to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of the Bundeswehr. It is also in service with Austria, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Finland, the Netherlands. Over 3,600 units of such tanks have been produced in total.
Finnish arms to Turkey in NATO quid pro quo, tanks to Ukraine next
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
Finland Approves Military Sales to Turkey Amid NATO Row
Defense Post, Jan 25 2023Finland’s defense ministry said Wednesday the country had issued the first commercial export license for military material to Turkey since 2019, a key demand for Ankara to approve Helsinki’s NATO bid. Riikka Pitkanen, special adviser at the ministry, told AFP that the export license granted concerned steel that would be used for armor. The resumption of military exports was one of the conditions set by Ankara to give the green light for the Finnish and Swedish NATO bids, which are currently stalled. In late September, Swedish authorities lifted a ban on military exports to Turkey.
Finland onboard with Ukraine battle tank aid effort, but unclear to what extent
Yle, Jan 25 2023Finland will participate in the combined international effort to supply Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, Interim Minister of Defence Mikko Savola (Centre) said on Wednesday. “We are preparing this together with the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF),” Savola said. However, Finland’s contribution will not be very big, the defence minister pointed out at a press briefing in Helsinki. According to Savola, Finland has not yet decided how it will participate in the Leopard 2 project. Earlier on Wednesday, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto (Green), said that Finland would be willing to cooperate with other countries in sending Leopard 2’s to Ukraine “in some way.”
Ukraine intensifies pressure on Georgia to enter war: ruling party leader
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
Irakli Kobakhidze responds to Kasyanov’s statement on possible evacuation of Ukrainian citizens
The Messenger, Jan 25 2023The Chairman of Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze responded to the interview of Ukraine’s Chargé d’affaires Andrey Kasyanov, who said that in case of resumption of direct air traffic between Georgia and Russia, Ukraine’s government does not rule out the possibility of evacuation of their citizens from Georgia for security reasons. Irakli Kobakhidze called Andrey Kasyanov’s statement a ‘shameful speculation,’ adding that an ‘irrelevant’ statement coming from Kasyanov is ‘not the first time.’ He said that there is nothing the Georgian government can do if Russia decides to resume direct flights, as the Russian government was the one who banned flights in the first place, not Georgia. Irakli Kobakhidze argued that Andrey Kasyanov would need to evacuate Ukrainians from Georgia if Georgia sent Buk missile systems to Ukraine, which according to Kobakhidze would have been a ‘direct involvement’ of Georgia in the military conflict. “We are used to such irrelevant statements from Kasyanov. This is a sad event. I can say that in that case Kasyanov would probably need to evacuate Ukrainians from Georgia, if we would send Buks to Ukraine. This would be Georgia’s direct involvement in the military conflict. That’s right, Kasyanov called us to join the war, and in this case we would need to evacuate not only Ukrainians, but also Georgians from Georgia. We heard Kasyanov’s statements regarding the second front, which were very heavy, and this is a continuation of this rhetoric.”
Biden to send 31 Abrams tanks, Germany 14 Leopards for war in Ukraine
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
US to send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
Polish Radio, Jan 25 2023The US said on Wednesday it would supply Ukraine with 31 advanced Abrams tanks to help the country defend itself against Russia’s invasion. Biden, Blinken and Austin announce a plan to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in remarks at the White House in Washington on Wednesday, Jan 25 2023. Biden announced the decision in remarks at the White House, saying the tanks were needed to help the Ukrainians “improve their ability to maneuver in open terrain.” Ukrainian soldiers will be trained to use the Abrams in a yet-to-be determined location. Earlier on Wednesday, Germany announced it would deliver a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks “as a first step” in allied efforts to quickly provide Ukraine with two tank battalions. Biden thanked Germany for its decision to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “Germany has really stepped up,” he said.
Polish PM welcomes German decision to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine
Polish Radio, Jan 25 2023The Polish prime minister has welcomed Germany’s decision to send some of its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine to help fight Russia’s invasion. Germany announced on Wednesday it would deliver a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks “as a first step” in allied efforts to quickly provide Ukraine with two tank battalions. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a tweet thanked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the move. “The decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia,” Morawiecki said. Germany confirmed on Wednesday it would give permission to other countries, such as Poland, Spain, Finland and Norway, to send their own German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Poland has pledged to provide Ukraine with a company of 14 Leopard tanks.
Abrams to rumble into Ukraine: US joins Germany’s vow to send Kyiv tanks
Breaking Defense, Jan 25 202331 American M1 Abrams main battle tanks will eventually make their way to Kyiv to help in the battle against Russia, Biden said today, just hours after Germany said it, too, would free German-made Leopards for the fight. Biden made the official declaration midday local time, announcing that the 31 M1 Abrams, one Ukrainian battalion-worth, will be heading to the Eastern European country to help “defend [and] protect Ukrainian land.” The point of sending the tanks, like all the other security aid that’s gone to Kyiv, was to push Russian soldiers back to Russian territory. If Russian troops returned home, the war would be over “tomorrow,” Biden said. Additionally, the US is providing Ukraine with eight M88 Recovery Vehicles in case the Abrams tanks break down or get stuck in the mud and need to be towed for repairs, perhaps a sign of the logistical, practical challenges to be overcome.
Germany Greenlights Long-Awaited Leopard Tanks for Ukraine
Defense Post, Jan 25 2023Berlin on Wednesday approved the delivery of powerful German-made Leopard tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion, after weeks of pressure from Kyiv and many allies. Germany will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from the Bundeswehr stocks, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement. It also granting approval for other European countries to send tanks from their own stocks to Ukraine, with the aim of quickly assembling “two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine,” he said.
France Studying Whether to Send Leclerc Tanks to Ukraine
Defense Post, Jan 25 2023France continues to study the possibility of sending its heavy Leclerc tanks to Ukraine, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Wednesday. The French tanks are comparable to the German-made Leopards, which Berlin agreed to send to Kyiv on Wednesday. France has provided its state-of-the-art Caesar artillery system, Crotale air defense system, and most recently pledged its highly mobile AMX-10 RC light tank among other weapons. With Germany now providing Leopards to Ukraine and the US set to send its Abrams, attention is expected to turn to whether France will authorize the deployment of Leclercs. “There’s no political objection,” a French defense ministry source told AFP on condition of anonymity. “We are just wondering whether the Leclerc would be a poisoned chalice. The aim is to be useful and effective.”
German foreign minister: “We are fighting a war against Russia” – video
Rick Rozoff, AntiBellum, Jan 25 2023
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