Russia's Kiselyov misleads on European military capacities
On March 2, Dmitry Kiselyov, CEO of state-owned media group MIA Rossiya Segodnya, questioned Europe's ability to boost military aid to Ukraine following a London summit at which European leaders pledged to continue support for Kyiv.
Kiselyov mocked the size of the British and French militaries, claiming that the U.K.'s largest stadium — Wembley — has enough seats to fit both armies, and that Europe has run out of its weapons stockpiles.
While sarcastic, Kiselyov's comparison to Wembley is false. The stadium has a 90,000-seating capacity. The strength of the U.K. military personnel more than doubles that — 180,780 as of Jan. 1.
In 2024, the European Union and U.K. had approximately 1.47 million combined active military personnel compared with Russia's 1.32 million.
Kiselyov also misled on European stockpiles. In 2024, European nations, which significantly outspend Russia on defense, budgeted some $457 billion for military readiness compared with Russia's $146 billion.
In terms of equipment, just five European countries — Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Greece — field 367,760 advanced armored vehicles, compared with Russia's 131,527. While Russia still has more tanks (5,750 vs. 4,649), the EU and U.K. compensate with superior technology, better logistics and a strong defense industry capable of rapid production increases.
Naval forces also favor Europe, with a combined fleet of more than 2,000 warships, including six aircraft carriers, whereas Russia has 419 ships and one aircraft carrier. France and the U.K. operate modern nuclear-powered submarines and advanced frigates, giving them on the technological edge.
The Russian Air Force operates 4,292 aircraft, including planes and helicopters. In comparison, the combined air fleets of the seven leading aviation countries in Europe —France, Italy, Britain, Germany, Greece, Poland and Spain — total 4,418 aircraft.
European NATO members, including Germany, France and the U.K., account for 28% of NATO's total defense spending. Europe's industrial base, despite past underinvestment and fragmentation, is ramping up production to meet new defense demands.
Britain and France maintain advanced military forces, including nuclear arsenals, modern air power and sophisticated naval fleets. France plans to allocate $448 billion for defense from 2024 to 2030, a $130 billion increase from the $318 billion budgeted for 2019-2025. Britain aims to raise annual defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a long-term goal of reaching 3%.
Germany, long criticized for underinvestment in defense, has made a historic shift by establishing a roughly $108 billion special fund for military modernization. This includes purchasing F-35 fighter jets, replenishing ammunition stockpiles and expanding its armored forces.
On March 4, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that plans to strengthen Europe's defense industry and enhance military capabilities could generate nearly $841.4 billion.
By contrast, Russia, while increasing its military production, faces significant equipment losses in Ukraine, relying on outdated Soviet-era stockpiles and imports from Iran, China and North Korea. Despite its large army, Russia struggles with replenishing high-tech weapons due to sanctions and industrial limitations.
Conclusion: European military outmatches Russian in key areas, with 1.47 million personnel, 367,760 armored vehicles and over 2,000 warships, including six aircraft carriers. France, Germany and Britain are increasing defense spending, while Russia struggles with losses, outdated stockpiles, and sanctions-limited weapons production.
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Voice of America
15-03-2025
- Voice of America
Starmer: ‘Sooner or later' Russia must yield to peace
Britain's leader encouraged his global counterparts to continue pushing for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine at the start of a virtual meeting Saturday intended to end the fighting between the two countries. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a virtual meeting of mostly European leaders that 'sooner or later' Russia would have to engage in talks on reaching a ceasefire in the three-year conflict. He addressed the group, described as a 'coalition of the willing,' of mostly European leaders as well as those from Australia, New Zealand and Canada but not the United States. 'Sooner or later, he's going to have to come to the table,' Starmer said of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Moscow to accept a ceasefire deal agreed to by U.S. and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said 'the ball is in Russia's court.' Putin has said he agrees with a ceasefire in theory, but Russia still has certain conditions and questions that must be addressed before accepting any agreement. In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Putin is stalling and has demanded so many preconditions 'that nothing will work out at all.' Meanwhile, the U.S. has expanded sanctions on Russian oil and gas as well as its financial sectors. Saturday's discussion among world leaders could address future military and financial support for Ukraine and Zelenskyy's security concerns if a peace deal is reached. Zelenskyy attended Saturday's online video session.
Voice of America
14-03-2025
- Voice of America
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Voice of America
14-03-2025
- Voice of America
Kremlin: Reasons to be optimistic about ceasefire deal
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday there are reasons for 'cautious optimism' regarding a proposed ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia, following talks between a U.S. envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Speaking to reporters in a telephone news briefing, Peskov referenced comments from Putin on Thursday in which he expressed qualified support for a U.S. ceasefire proposal to halt Russia's war with Ukraine for 30 days but said some questions needed to be answered. Peskov said that 'while much remains to be done, Putin 'expressed solidarity with [U.S. President Donald] Trump's position.' He said Putin held late night talks Thursday with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, during which Putin 'conveyed information and additional signals to President Trump.' The Kremlin spokesperson said both sides agreed Putin and Trump should speak, adding that the timing of the conversation will be agreed upon once Witkoff has conveyed the new information to Trump. In his nightly address to his nation Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Putin's comments were 'very manipulative' and that he thought Putin's qualified support for the U.S. plan was an effort to lay the groundwork for rejecting it. 'He is in fact preparing a rejection at present, because Putin is, of course, scared to tell President Trump that he wants to continue this war, that he wants to kill Ukrainians,' Zelenskyy said. He noted Ukraine had accept the U.S. proposal and was ready to organize monitoring and verification. 'We are not setting conditions that complicate the process; Russia is,' Zelenskyy said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that no discussions between Trump and Putin have been scheduled, but she said that could always change. Referencing comments on the president's Truth Social media account, Leavitt said Trump is pressuring the Russians to 'do the right thing.' She called the talks in Moscow Thursday 'a productive day for the United States of America and for the world in terms of peace.' On Thursday at the White House, ahead of talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said it would be 'very disappointing' if Russia ends up rejecting U.S. efforts to end the fighting. Meanwhile, Britain's Defense Ministry said Friday that Russia's prioritization of funding its war with Ukraine has likely resulted in insufficient funding for average Russians' health care, leading to shortages of medical staff and equipment. In its defense intelligence report, the ministry said Russia reportedly closed at least 160 hospitals in 2024, including 18 maternity facilities and at least 10 children's clinics. The report said Russia's small towns and villages have been particularly affected. The Defense Ministry said the 500,000 casualties Russia has sustained in the Ukraine war most certainly continue to put a strain on all levels of care in the Russian military medical system.
