Tosti

cross-posted from: https://feddit.nl/post/11733521

It's long been understood that the war in Ukraine will likely be a long and hard one, determined as much by production, supply, economics and political will as well as the skill and sacrifice of those fighting it.

But despite that realisation, the transition of the war into its third year of full-scale fighting still represents a bitter milestone, and while the front has seen some movements recently and the year is likely to see a number of offensive actions - at a strategic level, the lines are moving at a glacial pace, and often only when the supply situation allows.

By popular vote - today we're going to look at where the war in Ukraine stands in 2024. We'll explore ammunition production and supply, the economic health of the countries involved, some of the trends in terms of the way the fighting is evolving and put together what predictions we can for the coming months.

Patreon: /perunau

cross-posted from: https://feddit.nl/post/11732350

Italy plans to withdraw its air defense system, SAMP/T Mamba, from Slovakia, replacing the American Patriot air defense system. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico received a message from the Italian government about the withdrawal, citing the need to deploy it elsewhere.

Fico raised concerns about protecting nuclear power plants and other strategic targets in Slovakia. Previously, Slovakia provided military assistance to Ukraine, including a Russian S-300 missile defense system and temporary deployment of US Patriots.

However, under Fico's new government, Slovakia refused the 14th package of military aid to Ukraine, citing the need to maintain its defense capability. Fico emphasized not obstructing private defense companies' exports and affirmed military-technical cooperation with Ukraine during a meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.nl/post/11731873

Please use your browsers built in function to translate and read the full article in english:

Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, is facing a significant challenge surrounding the Taurus missile, a 5-meter-long, 1.4-ton precision-guided cruise missile of the Bundeswehr. Initially, it was an internal political dispute within the coalition on whether to deliver the missiles to Ukraine. However, since Scholz broke his silence on Taurus last week, the issue has gained international attention, with accusations of indiscretion and a leaked conversation among Bundeswehr officers adding to the complexity.

In a conversation initiated by Luftwaffeninspekteur Ingo Gerhartz, details about Taurus were disclosed, including the potential quantity of missiles for delivery and their estimated cost. The situation has raised concerns about Germany's security, as the leaked information could pose risks given the country's vulnerability to Russian intelligence. Additionally, the controversy has strained relations with allies, particularly the UK, following Scholz's public explanation for rejecting Taurus delivery to Ukraine and allegations of Germany's inability to handle target guidance independently.

The British government denied Scholz's claims, but the leaked conversation indicated the UK's involvement in supporting Ukraine with missile guidance. The situation has heightened tensions, with some viewing Scholz's statements as an abuse of intelligence information. There are also accusations of the Chancellor providing false information regarding the necessity of German involvement in Taurus deployment.

Despite these challenges, Scholz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are adopting a defensive strategy, urging unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged eavesdropping. The government characterizes the situation as absurd Russian propaganda. While the opposition may exert pressure, Scholz appears unlikely to reverse his decision on Taurus delivery, fearing it would be seen as a response to the surveillance and potentially escalate the situation. Overall, the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine seems increasingly improbable in the aftermath of recent events, aligning with Putin's interests.