Lithuania has begun building a military base designed to house up to 4,000 German troops, marking Germany’s first permanent foreign military deployment since World War II. The base, located near the border with Russia and Belarus, is a significant investment for Lithuania and will serve as a deterrent against potential aggression from Russia.
A Russian parliamentary deputy has accused the West of pushing the world towards a third world war by supporting a Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory. The deputy, Mikhail Sheremet, claims that Western military equipment, ammunition, and personnel are involved in the attack, escalating tensions between Russia and the West.
Russia has issued a stark warning to Ukraine, stating that the longer it delays peace talks, the tougher the terms will become. Moscow’s proposed terms include Ukraine ceding territory and renouncing NATO membership, which Kyiv has rejected. Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s Security Council secretary, claims that Ukraine has already lost territory and suffered heavy casualties since Putin’s peace proposal in June. Ukraine, however, insists on talks that uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned that Moscow might deploy nuclear missiles in response to the US’s planned stationing of long-range conventional weapons in Germany. The US plans to deploy SM-6, Tomahawk, and new hypersonic missiles in Germany starting in 2026, sparking concerns of an arms race. Ryabkov specifically mentioned the defense of Russia’s Kaliningrad region, situated between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, as a key focus. The US withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019, accusing Russia of violations, which Moscow denied.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has voiced Russia’s concerns over a potential permanent presence of NATO warships in the Black Sea, considering it a threat in light of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This comes in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s new maritime security strategy aimed at countering Russian dominance in the region.
NATO is reportedly considering ways to reclaim Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe if the conflict with Russia escalates, raising concerns about potential Chinese support for Russia. This shift in stance is driven by China’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and NATO’s growing focus on China’s influence.
The Kremlin has issued a stark warning that the deployment of US missiles in Germany could lead to a Cold War-style confrontation, potentially putting European capitals in the crosshairs of Russian missiles. This comes after the White House announced plans to station long-range weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, in Germany from 2026 as a deterrent.
Finland is facing a controversial bill that would allow border guards to turn back asylum seekers at the Russian border. This bill, seen as essential by some to prevent future mass migrations, contradicts Finland’s international human rights commitments. The move comes after a surge of asylum seekers from Russia in 2023, which Helsinki attributes to Moscow’s weaponization of migration in response to Finland joining NATO. This situation highlights the challenges facing the EU in managing migration and asylum seekers.
President Biden’s performance at the NATO summit sparked renewed worries about his age and mental acuity. A series of notable gaffes, including misidentifying Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as Russian President Putin and confusing Vice President Harris with Donald Trump, dominated headlines and provided fodder for Republican criticism. The missteps cast a shadow over what was otherwise deemed a successful summit by world leaders, raising questions about Biden’s ability to lead in a challenging global environment.
President Biden made a major gaffe at a NATO conference, introducing Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as ‘President Putin.’ The blunder comes as Biden faces growing calls to withdraw from the presidential race.
