Russia

Video: Dutch F-16s Intercept Russian Su-34 Jets Over Baltic Sea

By Latvian Public Broadcasting

The Dutch Ministry of Defense on Wednesday released footage taken on Monday by its F-16 planes participating in the NATO Air Policing Mission over Baltic skies, showing Russian Sukhoi SU-34 fighter-bombers flying in formation over the Baltic Sea.

Britain Forced to Ask NATO to Help Track ‘Russian Submarine’ in Scottish Waters

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

Britain called in Nato sea patrol planes to hunt for a suspected Russian submarine off Scotland last month, after the Government scrapped its own similar aircraft in defence cuts, it has been disclosed.

Russia Targets US Navy and Allies

By David Larter, Navy Times

Russia’s military has taken on an aggressive swagger. Highly provocative run-ins are now common with neighbors and NATO nations alike.

Russia Establishes New Arctic Military Command

By TASS and Moscow Times

From TASS:  A new Joint Strategic Command, dubbed North, on Monday [December 1] became operational in the Russian Arctic on the basis of the Northern Fleet.

Lithuania Puts Military Units on Alert Due to Russian Activities in Kaliningrad

By Lithuania Tribune

“Since the end of the last week, since Saturday, we have observed a rise in the activity of the Russian Federation’s forces in the Kaliningrad region as well as in the western part of the Russian Federation.

Canada is First NATO Member to Publicly Send Soldiers to Help Train Ukraine’s Military

By Steven Chase, Globe and Mail

Canada is operating independently of NATO to provide additional military assistance that will help Ukraine defend itself from Russia.

Is Russia’s Economic Pain Forcing Putin to Step Back on Ukraine?

By Elizabeth Pond

Russian President’s Softened Rhetoric and Talks with Ukraine Suggest a Change Are Western economic sanctions and falling oil prices starting to deter President Vladimir Putin from his larger ambitions in the Ukraine crisis? While Putin has vowed that Russia will overcome its economic isolation, ordinary Russians are feeling increased pain from an economy sliding into […]

After Moldova’s Election: Will Prime Minister Leanca Keep His Job?

Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Brian Mefford on Implications of the November 30 Vote As Moldova’s pro-European parties negotiate on the shape of a new governing coalition, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca could come under pressure to step aside for another leader, says Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Brian Mefford. That’s because Leanca’s Liberal Democrat party saw a […]

NATO Seeks Weapons to Counter Russia’s Information War

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

A casual consumer of Russian media might conclude the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, one of the strongholds of the country’s pro-EU uprising, has been overrun by violent fascists.

The Demise of South Stream

By Richard Morningstar

Russia’s Planned Pipeline to Southeast Europe Was Doomed from the Start While the timing of President Vladimir Putin’s abandonment of the South Stream gas pipeline this week was surprising, its demise was inevitable from the start.