UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights
462 vs. 457 billion dollars: Russia’s military budget surpasses the defense spending of all European countries combined – FT
In 2024, Russia allocated 13.1 trillion rubles ($462 billion) for war. This year, spending will rise to 1.56 trillion rubles, making up 40% of the budget.
The total defense budgets of all EU countries, including Britain, reached $457 billion in 2024.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, France, Britain, Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany, and the EU have stated that Ukraine and Europe must be involved in any negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The UK announces major military aid package for Ukraine at Ramstein meeting
Britain is providing an additional £150 million for tanks, artillery, air-to-air missiles, and new contracts to repair critical equipment in Ukraine, Defence Secretary John Healy said.
He also stated that his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, assured him that the US would remain involved in the Contact Group on Ukraine (Ramstein format).
🇩🇪 Germany also announced the transfer of about 100 IRIS-T guided missiles to Ukraine after the [Rammstein] meeting.
Germany plans to send 6,000 HX-2 kamikaze drones with artificial intelligence to Ukraine, Bild reports.
The drones are produced by the German company Helsing, which specializes in military technology. According to the company, they can hit Russian artillery, armored vehicles, and command posts.
The HX-2 has a range of up to 100 km and a top speed of 220 km/h. It can resist Russian electronic warfare, find targets in difficult weather, and carry out the final attack stage without operator intervention.
The delivery, estimated at several hundred million euros, is part of a three-billion-euro aid package for Ukraine. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is currently blocking it. Helsing remains confident that the new German coalition will approve the deal.
To fulfill the contract, Helsing has launched a new factory in Germany, set to produce 1,000 drones per month.
“Modern technology can compensate for the enemy’s numerical superiority. NATO must draw the right conclusions from this,” said Helsing CEO Gundbert Scherf.
❗️Putin will die soon, — President Zelenskyy in an interview with The Economist.
▫️Zelenskyy knows nothing about US-Russia contacts and learns about them from the press, like everyone else.
▫️Ukraine fears the US and Russia might make a deal without Zelenskyy.
▫️Zelenskyy will soon meet US Vice President J.D. Vance, who once said, “I don’t care what happens to Ukraine.”
▫️He still doesn’t fully understand Trump’s team’s true intentions.
▫️“America cannot face Russia alone. Putin will deceive them with manipulative information,” Zelenskyy said.
▫️He is concerned about certain signals from the West and believes Ukraine, as the non-aggressor, is being asked for too much: “Sitting at the table with the murderer Putin is already a big compromise.”
▫️The problem seems to be that the US and Europe either cannot or do not want to take on the responsibilities Zelenskyy expects.
❗️”I don’t see anything wrong with engaging in dialogue with Russia without Zelenskyy,” Trump said.
If NATO’s doors remain closed, Ukraine must build its own Alliance—Zelenskyy in The Economist
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely due to the positions of the US, Germany, and Hungary. However, Hungary might change its stance under pressure from President Donald Trump.
“Nobody gives up. But if the doors remain closed, Ukraine must build NATO on its own territory by strengthening its army. We need to double it to match Russia’s. President Trump can provide security guarantees, and Europe could help with funding. We need missiles, long-range missiles, and Patriots,” he said.
When asked if Ukraine has a “Plan B,” Zelenskyy replied, “This is the ‘Plan B.’”
Putin speaks with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, for the first time
Putin spoke about the “historical connection, friendship, and cooperation” between Russia and Syria, the Kremlin reported.
Meanwhile, the Syrian government is demanding compensation from Russia for the damage caused by decades of war against Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which Moscow supported.
Publicly, Russia refuses to pay, but according to Russian media, the Kremlin is privately considering the demands to maintain its naval bases in Syria.