Russia
- After over 10 months of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces, there’s no sign that 2023 will bring peace to Ukraine as the warring parties have radically different demands, and the US continues to escalate aid for Kyiv and its role in the war. AWC
- American soldiers will not operate Patriot missile batteries slated to be shipped to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, citing recent talks through diplomatic backchannels. Moscow previously threatened to destroy the advanced air defense systems should they reach the battlefield. The Institute
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned on Wednesday that Russia is working on new ways to disrupt Western arms supplies to Ukraine, signaling that Russia will start targeting more Ukrainian infrastructure. AWC
- Belarus on Thursday said it shot down a stray Ukrainian air defense missile from an S-300 system that ended up in its territory and summoned Ukraine’s envoy over the incident. AWC
Serbia
- Serbia on Thursday lifted the combat readiness alert for its troops that it enacted on Monday as ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo agreed to remove barriers they erected in protest against authorities in Pristina. AWC
China
- The State Department on Wednesday approved a potential $180 million arms sale for Taiwan amid heightened tensions with China over US support for the island. AWC
Korea
- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed more aggressive retaliation to military action by Pyongyang, calling to “punish” the DPRK soon after Seoul unveiled a new $440 million military spending package. The Institute
