The article discusses the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and NATO‘s response. Here are the main points:
* Russia has threatened to take “retaliatory measures” against the West, including a possible nuclear response, due to NATO’s support for Ukraine.
* The Kremlin’s chief spokesperson claimed that Russia will lift all restrictions on deploying its own weapons if the US deploys missiles with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
* In response to Russia’s aggression, NATO has increased its military presence near the Russian border and in other regions of the world.
* Ukraine has suffered heavy losses during the full-scale war, with estimates ranging from 43,000 soldiers killed and 400,000 injured (according to President Volodymyr Zelensky) to 60,000-100,000 killed and 400,000 injured (according to The Economist).
* Russia has made claims that it has conquered 189 settlements in Ukraine this year and that over 1,000 people sign contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry every day to join the war.
* EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas announced that the European Union will train 75,000 Ukrainian military personnel as part of its EUMAM training mission by February 2025.
* The EU has provided Ukraine with 4.2 billion euros in budget support this month and will begin allocating 1.5 billion euros monthly starting January 2025.
* NATO leaders have called for increasing the defense spending benchmark from 2% to 3% of gross domestic product, citing the growing threat from Russia.
Overall, the article suggests that tensions between NATO and Russia continue to escalate, with both sides making increasingly aggressive statements and taking steps to strengthen their military capabilities.