Russia

• The European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc targets $5 billion in weapons transfers to Ukraine annually for the next four years. To provide additional assistance to Kiev, the EU is attempting to train 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the year. The Institute 
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday told critics of Ukraine’s slow counteroffensive to “shut up” amid a flood of leaks from Western officials pinning the blame for the lack of success on Ukrainian commanders. AWC
• The US is set to arm Ukraine with controversial depleted uranium (DU) ammunition as part of an upcoming arms package for use with US-made Abrams tanks, Reuters reported on Friday. AWC
• On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would replace Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, a move that comes amid Ukraine’s struggling counteroffensive. AWC
• A Russian official said Friday that an advanced Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, known as Sarmat, has been placed on combat duty. AWC

China

• A spokesman for the Chinese Defense Ministry on Thursday outlined “obstacles” that are preventing the resumption of high-level military talks between the US and China. AWC
• The US military is in talks to build a Taiwan-facing port in the northernmost Philippine islands, Reuters reported on Thursday. AWC
• Taiwanese troops attended a multinational military exercise inside the US last month that was led by the Michigan National Guard, Taipei Times reported, citing the Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun. AWC
• Taiwan should expect a “resolute reaction” from the US if China attacks the island, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) vowed on Friday while leading a congressional delegation in Taipei. AWC

Korea

• North Korea on Saturday simulated a tactical nuclear weapon attack in response to another round of massive military exercises held by the US and South Korea. AWC

Syria

• The US and Israel will simulate striking Iranian nuclear facilities as part of a series of joint military exercises that will be held in the coming months, The Times of Israel reported Wednesday, citing Israeli TV. AWC
• Fighting continued between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DEMC), two US-backed militias in east Syria, on Wednesday. The US military has urged an end to the tensions, ongoing for four days, and which have left at least 40 people dead. The Institute 
• At least 50 people have been killed in battles fought between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DEMC) in eastern Syria. The warring parties are backed by the US. The Institute 

Niger

• Niger’s military junta has ordered police to expel the French ambassador from the country and revoked his diplomatic immunity. AWC