07:05 Plot against Rheinmetall-CEO? Alleged Russian agents are said to have already entered the EU
The threat to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger from possible assassination plans was apparently more concrete than known. According to "Spiegel" sources, western intelligence services have observed suspicious travels of alleged agents in the past few months. The men are believed to be from countries of the former Soviet Union, at least one from Russia. Some of them had already been in the Schengen Area, while others had planned entries. Suspicious individuals were detected not only near the Rheinmetall headquarters but also at Papperger's travel destinations abroad. Senior officials suspect that these could have been "proxies" of Russian intelligence services – hired hands from Moscow.
More about this at ntv.de
06:49 Heusgen: Berlin underestimates the situation still
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, criticizes the majority of the German government for their communication regarding the Ukraine war. "The German defense minister speaks candidly and says that we need to be battle-ready." However, his cabinet colleagues still underestimate the seriousness of the situation. "I have felt until today that most responsible politicians believe they can give the population a pure wine and say: 'We are dealing with an aggression like in the Cold War'", Heusgen laments. Putin has set himself the goal of restoring the old Soviet Union. "This is all still being downplayed a bit in our country", so Heusgen. "One must give the people a clear wine and tell them what Russia has broken in treaties, how Russia is arming, that Russia has nuclear-capable missiles stationed in Kaliningrad that can reach Germany."
06:22 Spying for Russia: Australian couple arrested
Two Australian citizens of Russian origin were arrested in Australia on espionage charges. The 40 and 62-year-old couple is accused of obtaining material from the Australian military to hand over to Russian authorities, reports the Australian Federal Police. The wife is a soldier in the Australian military. The Australian authorities accuse the couple of preparing a spying offense. The maximum penalty is a 15-year prison sentence. The couple's exposure was a complex operation of a special task force of the police and the intelligence service, according to Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
05:55 Horror after report on assassination plans: "The Putin regime now targets German citizens as well"
The CNN report on alleged Russian assassination plans against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger causes outrage in Germany. "It shows once again that Russia is bringing its war and terror to Europe", says the chairman of the Defense Committee, Marcus Faber of the FDP to the "Bild" newspaper. "The Putin regime now targets German citizens as well." The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth of the SPD, tells the paper that Putin is not only waging a war of annihilation against Ukraine, but also against its supporters and our values. US intelligence services, according to CNN, discovered plans of the Russian government for Papperger's assassination in early 2023. The German side was informed and Papperger was subsequently provided with special protection.
05:18 Hungary accuses NATO partners of hypocrisy and failure
The Hungarian government accuses NATO partners of hypocrisy and failure at the end of the NATO summit in Washington. "We will continue to advocate for dialogue and diplomatic channels, as the current strategy of the past two and a half years has been a total failure," says Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, according to a spokesperson in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Szijjarto represented Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who left the summit early to meet with former US President Donald Trump in Florida.
04:35 United Kingdom calls on NATO allies to increase defense spending
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces a plan of his government at the NATO summit in Washington to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product. At the same time, he urges other allies to do the same. Currently, 23 of the 32 alliance members are spending only two percent of their GDP on defense, but more needs to be done in the face of serious security threats, so Starmer.
03:30 Biden: I would speak with Putin if he were open to change
US President Joe Biden currently sees no point in talking to Kremlin chief Putin. In general, he is willing to speak with any state or government leader - including Chinese State and Party Chief Xi Jinping, Biden emphasized at a press conference following the NATO summit. This also applies if Putin calls him. "I'm saying I'm willing to talk, but I don't see the willingness for that," says Biden. Putin must be willing to change his behavior.
02:32 NATO-Ukraine Command construction begins in Wiesbaden
The construction of the new NATO-Ukraine Command to coordinate weapons deliveries and training activities for the Ukrainian armed forces begins today in Wiesbaden. However, the commander for Europe will probably still need several months to set up the command so that it can take on all planned tasks, NATO representatives said on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. Until then, US forces will continue to take on the coordination tasks. The deployment is also intended to be a precaution for the possible return of Donald Trump as US President in January 2025.
01:58 Scholz rules out unrestricted weapons engagement against Russia
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejects the call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory. "Nobody is changing the previous rules and guidelines - for good reason," says the SPD politician at the end of the NATO summit. One wants to support Ukraine as much as possible, but prevent the war from escalating into a war between Russia and NATO, so Scholz. Zelenskyy is primarily concerned about military bases in the Russian hinterland from which rocket attacks on Ukraine are launched. In attacks on Ukrainian cities on Monday, more than 40 civilians, including children, were killed.
01:25 Scholz on Anattachment Report: Recognize the Threats
In connection with a media report about Russian attack plans against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, Chancellor Olaf Scholz referred to Russian threats. "I won't say anything about that in detail," Scholz said at the NATO summit in Washington. "But I would be happy to tell you that we are already very well aware that we are exposed to numerous threats from Russian activities."
00:40 UN Demand Russia to Withdraw from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power PlantThe United Nations General Assembly demands that Russia withdraw its military and other unauthorized personnel from the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Russia should place the facility under the full control of Ukrainian authorities, according to a UN Resolution that passed with 99 Yes votes, nine No votes, and 60 abstentions. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, was taken over by Russia shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Although it has been shut down, it still requires external energy to keep the nuclear material cool and prevent a nuclear meltdown.
23:36 Pistorius Expects Correction in Budget 2025Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is convinced that there will be changes in favor of the defense budget in the 2025 budget draft. "I assume that further talks will lead to changes," says the SPD politician in ARD. He will not stop urging to equip the Bundeswehr so that it can fulfill its mission.
22:46 Kremlin: "On the Way to a Cold War"Russia criticizes the planned stationing of US long-range weapons in Germany as a return to the Cold War. "We are on the way to a Cold War. All this has happened before," says Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov to Russian state television. Peskov accuses Germany, the US, France, and Britain of directly intervening in the conflict in Ukraine. "And all the signs of the Cold War are returning - with confrontation, with direct confrontation between adversaries," says he. "All this is being done to undermine our country. All this is being done to ensure our strategic defeat on the battlefield," emphasizes Peskov. During the Cold War, however, there was peace in Europe. Russia began its war against Ukraine in 2014, which it intensified again in 2022.
21:34 Zelenskyy: Demands for Western Weapons Restrictions Must EndUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded at the NATO summit in Washington to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russian territory. "If we want to win and save our country, then all these restrictions must be lifted," emphasized the Ukrainian head of state. It is mainly military bases in Russian territory from which rocket attacks are launched. "If they attack us and kill our children, it's crazy to ask why we can't attack this military base," said Zelenskyy.
20:58 Another assistance package with Patriot-system for USAUS President Joe Biden announces another assistance package for Ukraine worth $225 million. Part of the package is a Patriot-system, which is intended to strengthen the air defense of the country against Russian air raids. Additionally, the package includes NASAMS missile defense systems, multiple rocket launchers of the HIMARS type, as well as artillery ammunition with calibers of 155 and 105 millimeters, according to the US government. The weapons come from the US military stocks.
20:19 Stoltenberg accuses Russia of intimidation campaignNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reports on a Russian campaign of hostile actions against NATO. It is intended to intimidate NATO members and prevent them from supporting Ukraine. However, this approach has the opposite effect, Stoltenberg states at the NATO summit in Washington.
You can read about all previous developmentshere..
08:45 Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Military Deployments
The threat to Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger's safety has brought attention to potential Russian military deployments and cyberwar tactics. In light of these suspicions, NATO allies are increasing their defense spending and military readiness.
07:53 Pushing back on Russian Cyber War
Western intelligence agencies have reported an uptick in Russian cyber attacks aimed at critical infrastructure and industries. In response, NATO and its members are developing cyber defense strategies to protect against future attacks and deterr Russian aggression.
06:45 Zelenskyy Addresses Ukraine-Conflict and Nato
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, has encouraged Nato allies to provide more military aid to Ukraine and remove restrictions on using weapons against Russian territory. He emphasized the need to prevent the war from escalating into a war between Russia and Nato.
05:45 Russia's Influence and Espionage in NATO Countries
Russian influence and espionage have been identified in several NATO countries, including Germany against Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger. This discovery has raised concerns about Russian infiltration and the potential for further attacks on NATO members.
04:25 Nato's Response to Russian Military Deployments and Attacks
As Russia continues its military deployments and attacks on Ukraine, Nato has increased its military presence in Eastern Europe to deter further aggression. Nato members have also agreed to share intelligence and provide military aid to Ukraine to help defend against Russian attacks.
