The US defense industry is preparing for a large-scale increase in production of missiles for the Patriot and THAAD systems. At the same time, concerns are growing in Europe about Russia's participation in the G20 meeting, although Washington says it is not ready for economic agreements with Moscow until the war is over. Russia, meanwhile, is conducting almost continuous drone attacks on Kiev and, according to Western officials, is expanding hybrid operations in Europe.
US to triple production of Patriot missiles and quadruple production of THAAD
The US has signed seven-year agreements with General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, which are to significantly expand production of interceptor missiles for air and missile defense systems. These include PAC-3 MSE missiles for Patriot, the production of which is planned to be tripled, as well as interceptors for THAAD, the production of which is to increase fourfold. This was reported by the US Department of Defense. The department noted that the framework agreements provide for multi-year purchases designed to accelerate the production and delivery of key components for both systems.
General Dynamics should ensure a rapid increase in the production of specialized components for interceptors. In particular, these are engine cases, homing head elements, center sections and fairing deployment systems. US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Procurement and Support Michael Duffy said that the agreements should help expand American production capacity and accelerate the delivery of air and missile defense equipment. Financing for the contracts will depend on annual budget appropriations from the US Congress, while the agreements provide for guaranteed minimum procurement volumes each year. The Pentagon expects that this will allow manufacturers and their suppliers to invest in expanding staff, purchasing materials and modernizing enterprises.
European countries opposed Russia's participation in the G20 finance ministers' meeting in the US
European representatives expressed their dissatisfaction with Russia's participation in the G20 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting, which began on August 31 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Russia is represented personally at the forum for the first time since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Finance Minister Anton Siluanov. At the same time, the US administration did not announce his participation in the meeting in advance. The appearance of the Russian representative caused discontent among European participants in the forum.
In particular, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and his European colleagues said that they would boycott a joint photo session of the ministers if Siluanov was present. As a result, the Russian minister was not allowed to participate in the photo session. At the meeting, G20 representatives are discussing global economic growth, supply chains of critical resources, international investments and public debt. At the same time, Russia’s presence has become one of the forum’s diplomatic problems. European countries that support Ukraine continue to advocate for Russia’s international isolation.
Russia is trying to compensate for Ukraine’s advantage in supporting the West with hybrid attacks against Europe
Russia has an advantage in firepower, but Ukraine largely compensates for it with the support of European countries that provide economic stability, military logistics, and weapons production. This is stated in an analysis by The Wall Street Journal. Europe finances the Ukrainian economy and military needs, and Ukraine’s logistics centers and defense enterprises also operate on the territory of EU countries. At the same time, Russia is forced to independently finance the war in the face of sanctions and strikes by Ukrainian missiles and drones on its energy, industrial, and logistics infrastructure. According to the publication, this asymmetry has become one of the factors pushing Moscow to intensify sabotage, cyberattacks, and other hybrid operations in Europe.
This year, Europe has already approved $105 billion in new aid to Ukraine, and European officials are discussing the possibility of a new package of a comparable size, including through frozen Russian assets. At the same time, the Ukrainian strikes, according to the publication, have disabled more than a third of Russia’s oil refining capacity, while Ukraine continues to supply its domestic market with fuel through imports from Europe. Against this background, Russia is intensifying hybrid attacks in European countries, including cyberattacks, sabotage and incidents with drones, in an attempt to influence public opinion and political decisions. Western officials fear that Moscow may launch a limited strike on logistical or military facilities in Europe to test the reaction of societies and governments. At the same time, in a number of countries, including Germany, the increase in Russian hybrid actions is already contributing to the perception of the threat from Russia and strengthening support for Ukraine.
Russia has switched to round-the-clock waves of drone attacks on Kyiv
Russia has changed the nature of its attacks on Kyiv in recent days, launching almost continuous waves of drone strikes throughout the day and night. According to The New York Times, residents of the capital have found themselves under constant threat from frequent airstrikes and drone attacks, especially jet-powered models that reach their targets faster and are more difficult to intercept. Previously, large-scale drone attacks on Kyiv mostly occurred at night, which allowed residents to adapt their daily lives to this rhythm. Now, airstrikes can last throughout the day, forcing residents to constantly check notifications and spend more time in shelters.
One of the consequences of the new tactics has been disruptions in the work of shops, cafes and other establishments, as well as concerns about the start of the school year. In one of the Kyiv cafes, a shock wave after a Russian drone crashed nearby injured a customer, and a child died from a fragment that pierced her lung. By Sunday, the facility had reopened, but people had set up a makeshift memorial near the scene of the child’s death. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia had launched nearly 1,500 drones into Ukraine in four days, many of which had attacked energy facilities, food warehouses and shopping malls. Kyiv residents also fear new large-scale missile strikes, as Ukraine is short of Patriot interceptor missiles.
“It’s hard for me because I also have a small child. We can’t sit in shelter all day. We can’t sit in shelter all day, every day. We need some fresh air. And I understand why the small child was in the park,” said cafe manager Ihor Kuzmich.
Bessant said that the US and Russia cannot reach an agreement before the end of the war against Ukraine
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said the head of the Russian Ministry of Finance Anton Siluanov that economic agreements between Washington and Moscow are impossible until the end of the Russian war against Ukraine. This was reported by a Reuters interlocutor familiar with the course of the negotiations. The conversation took place on August 31 on the sidelines of a meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20 countries in Asheville, USA. According to the agency, Bessant made it clear that Russia cannot count on economic easing or agreements on other issues while the war is ongoing.
Siluanov's presence at the G20 meeting also caused discontent among a number of European participants. Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski said that he did not trust Russia and considered it an aggressor, although he recognized the right of the US as the host of the meeting to invite representatives of other countries.
“We do not trust Russia. They lie all the time, and you have to be very, very careful when talking to them. Russia is an aggressor and is waging an aggressive war against Ukraine, so it would be very difficult for me to have any kind of conversation with the Russians,” Domansky said.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said the European Union was preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia, but called Siluanov’s presence a “quite worrying” signal about cooperation with the United States. “I would like more clarity from America that he should not be received here as an ordinary guest,” Klingbeil stressed.
Photo: x.com/EdwardLawrence
Author: Danylo Pievchev