U.S. Delivers Response to Russian Demands Amid Ukraine Crisis
William Mauldin and Michael R. Gordon | Wall Street Journal
The U.S. provided Russia with written proposals to tamp down military competition in Europe, countering demands from Moscow and trying to avert what Western officials worry is a looming Russian invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. proposals, delivered to the Russian Foreign Ministry Wednesday, could lead to discussions on ways to avoid confrontations in the Black Sea and missile-related inspections on each side, according to U.S. officials and people briefed by the Biden administration. They expand on a recent diplomatic approach by the U.S. and its allies but don’t meet Russia’s core demands, chief among them that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization deny Ukraine entry into the alliance and cut military ties with the country and other parts of the former Soviet Union.
North Korea Fires Two Missiles as U.S. Condemns Flurry of Tests
Josh Smith | Reuters
Nuclear-armed North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, drawing condemnation from the United States for what would be the sixth round of missile tests this month. The series of tests is among the most missiles ever launched by North Korea in a month, analysts said, as it begins 2022 with a dizzying display of new and operational weapons. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected the launch of what it presumed were two ballistic missiles at about 8 a.m. (2300 GMT) from near Hamhung, on the east coast of North Korea. They travelled for about 190 km to an altitude of 20 km, JCS added.
Russia Revises Expectations on Clinching Iran Nuclear Deal
Ilya Arkhipov and Jonathan Tirone | Bloomberg
Russia’s chief negotiator at the Iran nuclear talks said it could take weeks longer than he previously thought to reach an agreement, revising expectations as European and U.S. diplomats warn that the window to save the accord is closing. “If the talks continue at the pace they’re currently going, in principle it’s quite realistic to reach agreement by the end of February,” Mikhail Ulyanov told Rossiya-24 on Wednesday night, adding that a deal could be implemented by April. Last month, he said it would be possible to conclude talks to reactivate the 2015 pact by early February.
Aussies Unveil New Hypersonics Center, Signal Distance From Ukraine Crisis
Colin Clark | Breaking Defense
Australia’s defense minister cut the ribbon at the country’s new hypersonics center Tuesday, marking another step forward for the country’s offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities. “The technology that is developed here will help us to better defend against the malign use of this technology. And to give us the ability to strike against any potential adversaries from a distance and deter aggression against Australia’s national interests,” Defense Minister Peter Dutton said in Brisbane, where the center was built. Dutton also announced a “highly successful defense flight trial” late last year, part of a classified program aimed to “counter hypersonic threats,” but provided no further detail.
SecDef Austin Summons Hypersonics CEOs
Marcus Weisgerber and Patrick Tucker | Defense One
Amid several high-profile test failures that have slowed hypersonic weapon development, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has summoned the CEOs of nearly a dozen of America’s largest defense companies for a high-profile meeting next week, Defense One has learned. The purpose of the Feb. 3 meeting is to stress the urgency in fielding the fast-flying weapons as the U.S. plays catch-up to recent Chinese and Russian advances, according to five people with knowledge of the meeting. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Pentagon has not publicly announced it.
Spring Talks in Europe Eyed for U.N. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Pact
Kyodo News
The president-designate of a U.N. conference on nuclear nonproliferation is exploring the possibility of holding the gathering in Europe in the spring, moving up the timeline from his earlier proposal of convening the session in August, diplomatic sources said Tuesday. Gustavo Zlauvinen, who will head the upcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, known as the NPT, is eyeing the move based on requests from some member states for an early gathering.