Peacekeepers in Ukraine should not be covered under NATO’s Article Five, says Pentagon chief Any #peacekeeping force deployed to Ukraine should not be part of a NATO mission and be covered under NATO’s Article Five, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said. "Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five," he pointed out at a meeting of a Western contact group coordinating weapons supplies to Kiev. The Pentagon chief also stressed that the US would not send troops to Ukraine. Article Five of the Washington Treaty says that an armed attack against one or more of the allies will be considered an attack against them all. Each member state is obligated to take "action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area."

Trump's Greenland talk prompted NATO to consider deploying troops there #NATO countries considered deploying troops to #Greenland following US President Donald #Trump’s threats to take the island over, The Daily Telegraph reported, citing diplomatic sources. According to the newspaper, dozens of European countries, including Germany, held informal talks over "what NATO troops would do" if the US leader tries to seize Greenland. Among the matters discussed at the meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels was "whether Article 5, the Western military alliance’s mutual defense clause, could be invoked," it noted, adding that this scenario was quickly rejected, as it would require unanimous approval from all members, including the US. "Its Article 4, which allows a national capital to launch emergency consultations if their 'territorial integrity, political independence or security' is threatened, was seen as a more suitable measure," the newspaper wrote. Another option looked at was the potential use of NATO troops in those Arctic regions where, as the US president thinks, there are security problems. Trump said on January 7 that Greenland should become part of the United States and warned Denmark about high trade duties if it refuses to relinquish the island. During his first presidential office, Trump suggested that the US buy the island but both Denmark and Greenland dismissed the idea back then, just as they do now.

Trump has informed Israeli officials that he intends to withdraw thousands of US troops stationed in Syria. President Donald #Trump has reportedly informed the Israeli Government of his intent to pull U.S. #troops out of Syria according to #Israel's official public broadcasting Kan: “Senior White House officials conveyed a message to their Israeli counterparts indicating that President Trump intends to pull thousands of US troops from #Syria.”

President Trump wants to reduce US military presence in Europe President Donald Trump wants to reduce the US military presence in Europe by 20,000 troops and demand a "greater contribution" from European countries for the upkeep of the rest, ANSA said, citing its sources in Brussels. "Trump proceeds from the fact that US servicemen are a containment instrument, therefore, their expenses cannot be covered by US taxpayers alone," the news agency cited one of its sources as saying, specifying that all plans are currently in the early phase and have not yet been specifically discussed with European partners. However, the stance of the new US president who has always believed that Europe must do more to ensure its own security is well-known. For instance, Trump has already indicated a threshold of 5% GDP for military expenditures within the NATO framework. The news agency insisted that last year, EU total defense spending on average amounted to 1.9%, while in Russia, this figure is purportedly up to 9%. According to ANSA’s calculations, up to 80,000 US troops may remain in Europe, although their exact number is unknown. According to its estimates, about 12,000 US troops are stationed in various bases in Italy, including the NATO ones (in Aviano, Naples, Sigonella, Vicenza, Pisa and Latina).

Houthis declare missile strike against Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv Yemen’s #Houthis from the rebel Ansar Allah movement delivered a "hypersonic ballistic #missile" strike against the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, said Yahya Saree, the organization’s military spokesperson. "The rocket troops of the Yemeni armed forces staged a military operation, attacking the Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied district of Jaffa (Tel Aviv)]," the spokesman said, streamed by Al Masirah television. The movement also attacked a power plant located in the vicinity of Jerusalem, Saree added.

Senior Russian general, his aide killed in Moscow blast Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor #Kirillov and his aide were killed in a blast in southeastern Moscow on Tuesday morning. The #blast was caused by an explosive device that had been planted in an electric scooter, Spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee Svetlana Petrenko said. "On the morning of December 17, an explosive device planted in a scooter went off near a residential building entrance on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow, the investigation showed. Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his aide were killed in the explosion," she said. According to Petrenko, the Committee’s Moscow department has launched a criminal probe into the attack. Circumstances behind the crime are currently being investigated.

Ukraine to lose third of territory, get no invitation to #NATO, says Slovak PM Ukraine will lose 30% of its territory due to the conflict with Russia, but will never receive an invitation to NATO from the United States and its allies, #Slovak Prime Minister Robert #Fico said. "I think #Ukraine will lose a third of its territory, but it will be offered security guarantees, such as the presence of foreign troops. If this is considered the happiness for Ukraine that everyone talks about, I believe that Ukrainians will be betrayed," he said in an interview with Brazil's Folha de S.Paulo newspaper. According to Fico, the solution to the Ukraine conflict lies in achieving a ceasefire and initiating negotiations. "Ukraine <...> has allowed itself to be drawn into a situation that cannot end well for the country. It will lose territory and will not be invited to join NATO," he remarked. The prime minister also emphasized that the conflict's repercussions would significantly impact Ukraine's internal stability. On December 8, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow was open to talks on Ukraine, while in order to get on the peace track, it would be enough for Ukraine’s Zelensky to cancel his decree banning any talks with Russia and give instructions to resume dialogue based on the Istanbul agreements, while taking into account the actual situation on the ground. Meanwhile, Zelensky has rejected the #Christmas truce and prisoner exchange proposed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Nevertheless, he continues to express hope that Donald Trump could establish a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine.

#IDF troops on Mount #Hermon! Here is the first picture of the troops that took command of the highest part of largest mountain in the area. You can see in the background way below, the Israeli part of the mountain and understand just how strategic it is for Israel to be on the top!

Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia The #Bundeswehr (Germany’s armed forces) prepared a secret plan in case of a military conflict with #Russia, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported. According to it, the 1,000-page "Operation Germany" plan lists all infrastructure facilities that deserve special protection, and also contains a procedure for defense or "measures to deter Russia on NATO’s eastern flank." The plan says that in such a case, Germany would become "the center of concentration for tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of troops" that would be transferred to the east, as well as military equipment, food and medical supplies. Throughout the year, German military officials have repeatedly stated the need to prepare for a military conflict with Russia, which they say could take place in five years. In particular, Defense Minister Boris #Pistorius has stated this on several occasions. In July, the Bild newspaper reported that the Bundeswehr had drawn up a secret plan outlining the order of military and civilian action in the event that NATO troops needed to be moved to the alliance’s eastern flank. Commenting on German Foreign Minister Annalena #Baerbock's remarks in July that Russia allegedly posed the greatest threat to security in Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria #Zakharova said that this was nothing but "monstrous nonsense." The diplomat expressed hope that politicians in Germany would finally realize the deadlock and counterproductivity of their anti-Russian line and its danger for their own country.

Training Ukrainian troops makes France direct participant in combat, says Russian FM Lavrov The fact that #Paris is training #Ukrainian soldiers at a military base in France means it is directly involved in the conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference after taking part in the #G20 summit. "[French President Emmanuel] Macron has been one of the most vocal and biggest material supporters of the war, advocating for victory over Russia, for Russia’s strategic defeat. Ukrainian servicemen are currently completing their training in France, an entire assault shock brigade is being prepared. In essence, they are directly participating in the combat," the top Russian diplomat pointed out. "The same goes for talk about using French-made SCALP missiles [in Ukraine] which are identical to the UK’s Storm Shadow," Lavrov added.