Tag: ARMS

URGENT: Western arms ‘prolong suffering’ of Ukrainians: Kremlin

Moscow, Russia (AFP) The Kremlin on Monday said moves by France and other Western countries to supply Ukraine with weapons — including light tanks — would only make life more difficult for Ukrainians. “Fundamentally, these deliveries cannot and will not change anything… (they) can only prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to a question on France’s decision last week to send armoured vehicles to Ukraine. French […]

Patriot missiles: crucial but limited help for Ukraine

by Paul HANDLEY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The expected US provision of Patriot missiles to Ukraine is a muscular message of support and will boost defenses against Russia’s relentless aerial assaults, but experts say its battlefield impact will be limited. Patriots are “far from a silver bullet,” against the low-flying cruise missiles and drone bombs that Russian forces have pummeled Ukraine with, according to Ian Williams of the Missile Defense Project at […]

North Korea dismisses as ‘groundless’ US claims of arms supplies to Russia: state media

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea said Tuesday that claims by the United States that Pyongyang is supplying artillery ammunition to Moscow for its war in Ukraine were groundless, state media KCNA reported. The rebuke comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula after a spate of North Korean weapons tests last week — including an intercontinental ballistic missile — as the United States and South Korea conducted their biggest-ever air force exercise. The […]

North Korea ‘covertly’ supplying artillery shells to Russia: W.House

Washington, United States | AFP | by Paul HANDLEY The United States said Wednesday that North Korea is sending a significant amount of artillery ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine, under cover of shipments to the Middle East or Africa. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said US officials did not know whether Russia has received the ammunition, but were trying to monitor the shipments. US information indicates that North Korea “is […]

US OKs $5 bn sale of missile defense systems to Saudi, UAE

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States announced Tuesday the sale of major missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates worth more than $5 billion. The approval was announced two weeks after US President Joe Biden met leaders of the two countries in Saudi Arabia on a trip seen as crucial to strengthen frayed relations with them, and as both nations perceive a heightened threat from Iran. The State Department […]

Himars precision rockets shift the balance in Ukraine: experts

by Paul Handley Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US-made precision rockets have given Ukraine forces a major battlefield boost since they were introduced in June, tilting the balance against the Russians and possibly forcing Moscow to pause its offensive, experts said. Since mid-June, using the Himars missile systems, Ukraine has destroyed more than 20 major Russian ammunition depots and command posts that were previously too far behind the front lines to be reached […]

Iran to supply Russians with UAVs for Ukraine: White House

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Iran is planning to supply hundreds of drones with combat weapon capabilities to Russia for use in Ukraine, a top US official said Monday. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor, said the information received by the United States supported views that the Russian military is facing challenges sustaining its weaponry after significant losses in Ukraine. “The Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred […]

Zelensky ‘grateful’ for new US arms package to Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he was “grateful” for a new American arms package to Kyiv after speaking to US President Joe Biden. “The United States announced new strengthening of our defense, a new $1 billion support package,” Zelensky said in an evening address. “I am grateful for this support, it is especially important for our defense in (the eastern region of) Donbas.” Biden announced an arms package to Ukraine […]

Europe new ‘hotspot’ for arms imports: report

by Marc PRÉEL Agence France-Presse STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) – Europe saw the world’s biggest rise in arms imports in the past five years, a trend set to accelerate following recent rearmament commitments amid the threat posed by Russia, researchers said Monday. While arms exports declined globally by 4.6 percent in 2017-2021 compared to the preceding five years, Europe posted a 19-percent increase, according to a study published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). […]

US, China dominated arms market in 2019: report

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — US and Chinese companies dominated the global arms market in 2019, while the Middle East made its first appearance among the 25 biggest weapons manufacturers, a report by the SIPRI research institute said Monday. The US arms industry accounted for 61 percent of sales by the world’s “Top 25” manufacturers last year, ahead of China’s 15.7 percent, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Total sales by the “Top 25” […]

US to sell air-to-ground missiles to Taiwan

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US government announced approval Wednesday to sell $1 billion worth of advanced air-to-ground missiles to Taiwan as the island shores up its defenses against the threat from China. The State Department said it had agreed to sell 135 of the AGM-84H SLAM-ER missiles, precision-guided, air-launched cruise missiles, and related equipment. Also approved was the sale of six MS-110 reconnaissance pods for air reconnaissance, and 11 M142 mobile light […]

China demands US cancel arms sale to Taiwan

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China demanded Tuesday that the United States “immediately cancel” a potential sale of $2.2 billion in arms to self-ruled Taiwan, including battle tanks and anti-aircraft missiles, adding fuel to tensions between the two powers. The US later shrugged off China’s complaints, responding that the equipment would contribute to “peace and stability” in Asia. The sale would be the first transfer of big-ticket US military gear to the democratically-governed island in decades, […]