{"id":785,"date":"2025-03-20T21:46:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T21:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=785"},"modified":"2025-03-20T21:46:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T21:46:52","slug":"europe-defies-putins-demands-commits-greater-defense-support-for-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/?p=785","title":{"rendered":"Europe Defies Putin&#8217;s Demands, Commits Greater Defense Support for Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Welcome back to World Brief, where we\u2019re looking at <strong>European<\/strong> defense commitments for <strong>Ukraine<\/strong>, <strong>Israel<\/strong> and <strong>Hamas<\/strong> renewing attacks, and opposition arrests in <strong>Turkey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3><strong>Keeping the Aid Flowing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump during their phone call on Tuesday that a <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/03\/18\/trump-putin-phone-call-russia-ukraine-war-energy-strikes-cease-fire\/\">key condition<\/a> for a cease-fire with Ukraine would be a freeze on all foreign military aid and intelligence-sharing to Kyiv. Ukraine\u2019s European allies, though, aren\u2019t giving in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Welcome back to World Brief, where we\u2019re looking at <strong>European<\/strong> defense commitments for <strong>Ukraine<\/strong>, <strong>Israel<\/strong> and <strong>Hamas<\/strong> renewing attacks, and opposition arrests in <strong>Turkey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode-fallback\">\n<h2 class=\"dek-heading\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/category\/world-brief\/\">Sign up<\/a>  to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.            <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-shortcode-newsletter=\"world_brief\" class=\"newsletter-unit-signup newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode email-capture--step-1 newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode-world_brief\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-world_brief newsletter-shortcode-world_brief\">\n<div class=\"show-on-email-capture--signed-up hide-from-newsletter-subscriber newsletter-unit-signup--shortcode--container\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-unit newsletters-page newsletter-row\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-world_brief\">\n<h2 class=\"dek-heading\">Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday.<\/h2>\n<p>\n                        <button class=\"button\">Sign Up<\/button>\n                    <\/p>\n<div class=\"grid--flex newsletter-world_brief newsletter-signup-container\" role=\"group\" aria-label=\"World Brief sign up form\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"buttons\">\n<div class=\"hide-from-newsletter-subscriber privacy-policy-container\">\n<div class=\"privacy-policy-acknowledge\">\n<p><small>By submitting your email, you agree to the <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/privacy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/termsofuse\/\" target=\"_blank\">Terms of Use<\/a> and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.<\/small><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n    <label for=\"email-world_brief\">Enter your email<\/label><br \/>\n    <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" class=\"hide-from-reg hide-from-sub\" id=\"email-world_brief\" aria-required=\"true\" required=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p>    <button class=\"button button--signup \" data-newsletter-id=\"world_brief\" data-sourceid=\"In-article unit\">Sign Up<\/button>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<h3><strong>Keeping the Aid Flowing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump during their phone call on Tuesday that a <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/03\/18\/trump-putin-phone-call-russia-ukraine-war-energy-strikes-cease-fire\/\">key condition<\/a> for a cease-fire with Ukraine would be a freeze on all foreign military aid and intelligence-sharing to Kyiv. Ukraine\u2019s European allies, though, aren\u2019t giving in.<\/p>\n<p>On Thursday, the European Council <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/eu-defense-funds-weapons-ukraine-ammunition-russia-d472d36e583f1bd7ebf54e5826b9e752\">kicked off<\/a> a two-day leaders\u2019 summit to discuss Ukraine\u2019s war effort and ways to improve the continent\u2019s security. Twenty-six of the European Union\u2019s members agreed to \u201curgently step up efforts to address Ukraine\u2019s pressing military and defence needs.\u201d Hungary was the exception, as pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orban opposes the bloc\u2019s \u201cpeace through strength\u201d strategy.<\/p>\n<p>NATO intelligence estimates that Moscow could be capable of launching a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/russia-war-threat-europe-within-5-years-danish-intelligence-ddis-warns\/\">large-scale war<\/a>\u201d on Europe within five years. With that in mind, European countries are beginning to rally behind calls for <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/03\/06\/nato-5-percent-defense-spending-trump-russia-ukraine\/\">increased defense spending<\/a>. On Thursday, Spain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/spains-pm-sanchez-sees-defence-technology-upgrade-eus-priority-2025-03-20\/\">pledged<\/a> to reach NATO\u2019s 2 percent defense spending requirement before its original commitment of 2029; Madrid recorded the lowest spending threshold of any NATO member in 2024, with defense expenditures worth just 1.28 percent of its GDP.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUkraine is currently the frontline of European defence, resisting a war of aggression driven by the single greatest threat to our common security,\u201d according to a European defense blueprint titled <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/eu-defense-us-ukraine-industry-ammunition-weapons-ea03077814f9113b548d7281f32a11b5\">Readiness 2030<\/a> that was released on Wednesday. \u201cThe outcome of that war will be a determinative factor in our collective future for decades ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This security strategy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/eu-leaders-stress-defence-economic-strength-amid-growing-uncertainty-2025-03-20\/\">commits<\/a> Europe to providing Ukraine with air defense systems, missiles, and drones; at least 2 million rounds of large-caliber artillery shells each year; and continued front-line training. At the same time, dozens of European military chiefs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/live-news\/20250320-military-chiefs-gather-in-uk-to-discuss-ukraine-protections\">gathered<\/a> in London on Thursday to discuss a possible peacekeeping force as part of the British- and French-proposed \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/03\/19\/turkey-wants-to-be-a-european-power-now\/\">coalition of the willing<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>All this comes as Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to launch attacks. According to Moscow\u2019s Defense Ministry, its air defenses <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/International\/ukraine-targets-key-russian-airbase-massive-drone-attack\/story?id=119975332\">shot down<\/a> 132 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory on Wednesday night into Thursday. One such drone hit a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/ukraine-attacked-airfield-near-engels-strategic-bomber-base-russian-officials-2025-03-20\/\">major airfield<\/a> that houses the Kremlin\u2019s so-called White Swan heavy strategic bombers, injuring at least 10 people and triggering a massive fire.<\/p>\n<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2025\/mar\/20\/europe-live-russia-ukraine-war-eu-zelenskyy-putin-trump-starmer-military-leaders-london-news?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-67dc02f58f0837956aaeb0ff#block-67dc02f58f0837956aaeb0ff\">accused Russia<\/a> of firing at Ukraine on Wednesday. \u201cEvery day and every night, nearly a hundred or more drones are launched, along with ongoing missile attacks,\u201d the Ukrainian president said. His warning follows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/intelligence-shared-with-white-house-shows-ukrainians-not-encircled-kursk-2025-03-20\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=032025&amp;lctg=607f1056abd4f461f466319b\">new intelligence<\/a> indicating that Ukrainian soldiers in Russia\u2019s Kursk region have lost ground in recent days but are not encircled by enemy forces, as the Kremlin and Trump have suggested.<\/p>\n<p>Kyiv <a href=\"https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/ukraine-us-to-hold-talks-in-saudi-arabia-on-march-24\/\">announced<\/a> on Thursday that a Ukrainian delegation will meet with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia next Monday to discuss a Russia-Ukraine cease-fire deal. That same day (though in a separate meeting), U.S. diplomats will also hold talks with Russian officials in Riyadh.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3><strong>Today\u2019s Most Read<\/strong><\/h3>\n<hr\/>\n<h3><strong>What We\u2019re Following<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Deadly strikes in Gaza. <\/strong>Israeli forces continued to bombard Gaza on Thursday, with airstrikes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/least-70-palestinians-killed-israeli-strikes-across-gaza-gaza-health-authorities-2025-03-20\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=032025&amp;lctg=607f1056abd4f461f466319b\">killing<\/a> at least 91 Palestinians. Residents across the territory have received evacuation orders as Israeli troops push forward ground operations to expand their control of the Netzarim corridor. On Thursday, the Israeli military <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-hostages-03-20-2025-36c07d3dc7c03f66f86f44409d504d43\">restored<\/a> a blockade on northern Gaza, including Gaza City, and warned residents against using the main highway to enter or leave the north.<\/p>\n<p>The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas shattered on Tuesday when Israel launched a large-scale assault on Gaza. More than 400 Palestinians were killed that day\u2014marking the deadliest single day of fighting since November 2023. According to Hamas, at least five of its top leaders in Gaza were among those killed.<\/p>\n<p>Hamas did not retaliate during the first 48 hours of renewed attacks, and on Wednesday, the group said it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/03\/19\/middleeast\/israel-ground-offensive-renewed-war-gaza-intl\/index.html\">remained committed<\/a> to the original cease-fire deal. But that ended on Thursday, when its fighters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/20\/world\/middleeast\/hamas-attack-tel-aviv-israel-gaza.html\">fired three rockets<\/a> at Tel Aviv; no casualties were recorded.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Escalating crackdown. <\/strong>Thousands of Turkish residents assembled on Thursday to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/turkey-seizes-detained-istanbul-mayors-construction-company-2025-03-20\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=032025&amp;lctg=607f1056abd4f461f466319b\">protest<\/a> the arrests of Istanbul Mayor <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2024\/09\/23\/turkey-politics-chp-opposition-detetas-imamoglu-istanbul-erdogan-women\/\">Ekrem Imamoglu<\/a> and other prominent opposition figures, defying a four-day government ban on public gatherings. \u201cThis immoral and tyrannical approach will undoubtedly be overturned by the will and resilience of our people,\u201d Imamoglu <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/19\/world\/middleeast\/turkey-istanbul-mayor-arrest.html\">said<\/a> the day before.<\/p>\n<p>Imamoglu, along with some 100 others, were detained on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and aid to a terrorist organization, which refers to his party\u2019s alliance with a pro-Kurdish group. Critics, however, maintain that the arrests were politically motivated, as Imamoglu was expected to be chosen on Sunday as the opposition party\u2019s nominee for president.<\/p>\n<p>Yet public unrest appears to have only exacerbated Ankara\u2019s crackdown. On Thursday, Turkish officials <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/turkey-istanbul-mayor-arrest-crackdown-imamoglu-eb2f5f0582a32e0c15f881b54fda2ffc\">detained<\/a> another 37 people for allegedly sharing \u201cprovocative\u201d content about Imamoglu\u2019s arrest on social media. And President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s administration said it is looking for another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/c5950647-1ec0-449f-bd01-90a62382acaa\">224 suspects<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>More military influence. <\/strong>Indonesia\u2019s parliament unanimously passed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/indonesia-parliament-passes-contentious-amendments-military-law-2025-03-20\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=Daily-Briefing&amp;utm_term=032025&amp;lctg=607f1056abd4f461f466319b\">controversial revision<\/a> to the country\u2019s military law on Thursday, allowing military officers to serve in more government posts without having to resign from the armed forces. A <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/indonesia-parliament-new-military-law-99950f862d738e07cdb1586ccb08adbe\">new clause<\/a> also gives the president the ability to appoint military personnel to other departments as needed.<\/p>\n<p>The government argues that the revision\u2014which is backed by President Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander and the son-in-law of former military dictator Suharto\u2014is needed to make the military better able \u201cto face conventional and nonconventional threats,\u201d Defense Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/03\/20\/world\/asia\/indonesia-military-law.html\">Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin<\/a> said, arguing that the existing law (passed in 2004) was outdated.<\/p>\n<p>But student protesters argue that the overhaul is an erosion of the <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2024\/02\/14\/prabowo-indonesia-election-democracy-jokowi\/\">country\u2019s democracy<\/a> and a return to its <a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2024\/02\/28\/indonesia-elections-prabowo-leader-human-rights-jokowi\/\">authoritarian past<\/a>. \u201cThe essence of democracy is that the military should not engage in politics,\u201d an activist with the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c8x4217npppo\">BBC<\/a>. \u201cSince 1998, there has been a creeping murder of democracy. And today marks its peak. Democracy has been killed by the House of Representatives.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h3><strong>Odds and Ends<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Trying to procrastinate at work with something that feels productive? Check out the Dutch city of Utrecht\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/visdeurbel.nl\/en\/\">fish doorbell<\/a>,\u201d an online livestream that allows viewers to watch fish in the Weerdsluis lock as they make their springtime migration. Although murky water fills the screen much of the time, viewers can alert water workers when they see a fish enter the area; when there are enough fish present, officials will then open the lock to let them swim through.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, FP\u2019s World Brief writer spent much of the day checking on the livestream, but it was for, um, research.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2025\/03\/20\/european-union-ukraine-russia-defense-spending-military-aid\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome back to World Brief, where we\u2019re looking at European defense commitments for Ukraine, Israel and Hamas renewing attacks, and opposition arrests in Turkey. Keeping the Aid Flowing According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. President Donald Trump during their phone call on Tuesday that a key condition for a cease-fire with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-785","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politcical-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/firearmupgrades.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}