No worries. Peking will have reverse engineered the S-400 by now and can undoubtedly produce its own copies.

Korea already has many of them on building rooftops

Disguised as cell phone towers?

Two trash countries at odds with one another is always good.

Hope the contract has penalty causes!

First Leopard tanks delivered to Hungary

The EU and NATO partner Hungary has received its first shipment of Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Germany plans to deliver arms to Hungary for more than 1.7 billion euros over the next few years.

Hungary has received a first shipment of Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Germany. The four tanks from the manufacturer Krauss-Maffei-Wegman arrived in the barracks of Tata, 75 kilometers west of Budapest. Defense Minister Tibor Benkö was given the key symbolically.

"The dream of many tank soldiers has come true today." Said Hungarian Defense Minister Tibor Benkö

The vehicles are four used Leopard 2A4 tanks for instruction and training purposes. Eight more will be delivered by the end of the year.

Arms deliveries in the billions

From 2023 onwards, the EU and NATO partner will receive 44 main battle tanks of the new Leopard 2A7 model. Only Germany, Denmark and Hungary will then have the most modern variant. The Hungarian army has been using the Soviet T-72 main battle tank for decades. A modernization program is now underway.

Hungary has also ordered 24 PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers in Germany, as well as tracked vehicles for pioneer units and the Iguana tank bridge. According to German information, the value of the armaments ordered is 1.76 billion euros.

Hungary's national-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban repeatedly emphasizes that he is interested in a good relationship with Germany.

https://www.mdr.de/nachrich...

"Hungary's national-conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban repeatedly emphasizes that he is interested in a good relationship with Germany."

No doubt about that. He is also interested in a good relationship with the Kremlin.

Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself.

bulgaria will be next.^^

usa and uk will soon kiss russias ass to fight china. trump is already making the deals

Security in the Black Sea and the Balkans

The aim of the meeting with the Bulgarian Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov was to provide new impulses for closer security cooperation. Bulgaria is bordering the Black Sea and thus one of the "outposts" of the EU-European Union on the edge of the sphere of interest of Turkey and Russia.

The Bulgarian perspective plays a central role in the development of a common strategic compass for Europe, emphasized Kramp-Karrenbauer in Sofia. Both in terms of security in the Black Sea region and stability in the Balkans. In this respect, she was pleased that Germany and Bulgaria not only had excellent military relations, but also that there were many overlaps in terms of content in politics. “We share the view that in the Balkans one can see what happens if Europe does not exercise its influence but third-party influence is exercised. That is why it is so important that we look from the Eastern European countries to the Baltic States and the Black Sea region, ”says Kramp-Karrenbauer in Sofia.

An even closer collaboration

Defense cooperation with Hungary is similarly close to that with Poland: Hungarians rely largely on German know-how to modernize their armed forces. “It is not enough to agree on negotiations. In the end, we have to act together, ”said the Minister. Challenges in dealing with Hungary are more of a socio-political nature. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán used the corona crisis to bring more power to his office.
 
We agree that for a common European defense policy we need a common view of the threats to our continent.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, July 16, 2020

Act together, grow together

The neighboring countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which had been brother states until 1992, were the last stops on the trip. "I am very pleased that Slovakia will actively support us with important projects of our EU-European Council Presidency, with the strategic compass, with the PESCO permanent structured cooperation projects, but also with the peace facilities," said AKK after a conversation with the Slovakian Defense Minister Jaroslaw Nad 'in Bratislava. Cooperation on the Irini Mediterranean Mission should also be intensified.

The extensive partnership with the Czech Republic is to be expanded further according to Kramp-Karrenbauer's plans. The Czech Republic is one of Germany's closest partners among the Eastern European nations. For example, the armored forces of both countries work very closely together. Kramp-Karrenbauer said after the meeting with her counterpart Lubomír Metnar that they wanted to advance security cooperation in the NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization and in the EU. Now it is time to act.

https://www.bmvg.de/de/aktu...

Europe's quietest warrior: How Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wants to drive out her fellow countrymen's fear of fighting and convert the continent into a military power

Her opponents mocked her as a "Mini Merkel", and she remained pale as party leader. But Germany's Defense Minister has caught on. On the way with a woman who has learned to be underestimated.

https://www.nzz.ch/internat...

"bulgaria will be next."

How so? As far as I am aware, Bulgaria isn't cuddling up to the Kremlin in the way that Orban has been doing for several years now, and your quoted article doesn't seem to suggest that it is.

"usa and uk will soon kiss russias ass to fight china."

I am sure that's what some in Germany want to see happen. ;o)

germany's silent policy is always more importent than the public one. and while u are still busy with ns2 germany is already 10 years ahead.^^

5 countries she visited.

Bulgarian Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov received his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer in Sofia on Thursday with military honors. The CDU leader is on a trip to Eastern Europe and is campaigning for closer military integration of the European Union. The defense minister criticized earlier this week the member states different view of Russia. That is "problematic". The German government wants to use the current German EU Council Presidency to develop a "strategic compass" in which the EU develops a common threat analysis on Russia.

Unlike Poland, Karrenbauer's first travel destination, Bulgaria has good relations with Russia. Nevertheless, at her meeting in Sofia, the Defense Minister confirmed that the military cooperation between the two countries should be expanded. Officers of the Bulgarian army will take part in German general staff courses in the future. "We also want to strengthen cooperation in the field of armaments cooperation and armament projects," said Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Karakachanov will have heard this announcement with pleasure, because "reports of success" are currently rare for him. His government has been under domestic pressure: demonstrators have been calling for Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Bulgarian Attorney General to resign for a week. Since the demonstrations began, estimates suggest that up to 10,000 people across the country have taken to the streets every day despite the corona crisis.

https://www.neues-deutschla...

Trump urges Putin to rescue disarmament contract
The nuclear disarmament agreement between Russia and the United States will expire soon. Donald Trump fears an arms race with China. He has now called Vladimir Putin on the phone.

https://www.zeit.de/politik...

"usa and uk will soon kiss russias ass to fight china."
I am sure that's what some in Germany want to see happen. ;o)

u sold hongkong to china. u sold crimea to russia. what will u sell next? ;) and then u will call for help and search someone who will clean this all up for u. if u want to talk about repeating history.^^

good luck^^
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Hi Frank, thanks for the extracts from news articles, but its all common knowledge.

I queried your assertion that "usa and uk will soon kiss russias ass to fight china". I still have no real idea why you think that is likely.

To be clear, of course I agree that the fascist regime in the Kremlin is working hard to get a closer relationship with Britain USA and Germany - and there are some in all three countries who wish that it would, because fascism is their ideal.

What I am asking is why you think it will happen, which is a different issue. Take your reference to USA for instance - on the surface Trump does seem quite favourable to Putin in a number of ways - but what practical difference has it made?

I also wrote in my post that Bulgaria isn't cuddling up to the Kremlin in the way that Orban has been doing for several years now.

You seem to disagree, but your only reason appears to be that Bulgaria has a continuing relationship with Russia. Sure, but what relevance does this have? Every country has a continuing relationship with every other country, with Russia no less than with China, Germany or French Guiana.

putin is not calling trump. trump is calling putin. thats asskissing. and trump will have to make a deal for this.

"I am sure that's what some in Germany want to see happen"
relevant?

"I wrote to you that Bulgaria isn't cuddling up to the Kremlin in the way that Orban has been doing for several years now. You disagree"
relevant? i simple translated a link for u.

u came up with repeating history and i played the same game like u. we can continue this game if u want it. you throw a bit dirt, i throw a bit dirt. and so on and so forth.

orban has connections to russia? what about johnsons connections to russia?

Putin plays mind control games. He's even played them with the Pope. He keeps international leaders waiting for a few hours for planned meetings, pretending to be busy.
KGB tactics!

Hi Frank, you seem to be tying yourself in knots now:

“putin is not calling trump. trump is calling putin. thats asskissing. and trump will have to make a deal for this.”

So now you are saying that just because one national leader calls another, therefore he “has to” make a deal? Sorry, but that doesn’t follow.

In any case, you are changing your position - what you wrote was "usa and uk will soon kiss russias ass to fight china", yet now you aren’t talking about USA but about Trump. Even if Trump does want to "kiss russia's ass" (as you claim), that doesn't mean the USA will do so. US Presidents have limits on their powers.

“"I am sure that's what some in Germany want to see happen"
relevant?”

Yes it is. Just because people want USA and UK to side with Russia doesn’t mean they will.

“relevant? i simple translated a link for u.”

Cool. I wrote that Bulgaria isn't cuddling up to the Kremlin in the way that Orban has been doing for several years now. If you don't disagree with that then no problem.

“u came up with repeating history and i played the same game like u. we can continue this game if u want it. you throw a bit dirt, i throw a bit dirt.”

No, I have never referred to “repeating history” nor am I playing games. I wrote that Orban is interested in a good relationship with the Kremlin as well as with Germany. You don’t appear to agree, but still haven't said why.

“orban has connections to russia? what about johnsons connections to russia?”

That’s not what I wrote, Frank. I didn’t refer to mere connections, and I didn’t just refer to Russia, but to the Kremlin.

As for Johnson, most people would consider him to be very anti-Kremlin. Still, if you have some evidence that Boris is a secret adherent of Putin's regime, I’d be happy to look at it.

Oligarchs, donations of millions and tennis matches with the premier. The Russian traces to London

With great delay, the British Parliament has tabled a report on the Kremlin's influence on the Kingdom. It is delicate for Boris Johnson, who now wants to finally bury the topic.

By Jörg Schindler, London
07/21/2020, 10:51 p.m.

There is, for example, Lyubov Chernuchin, a very wealthy businesswoman residing in London, whose husband was once Russia's deputy finance minister. She appreciates the UK's conservative party - so much so that she once donated large sums to be able to dine privately with ex-Prime Minister Theresa May and several of her cabinet members.

Above all, Ljubow Tschernuchin apparently has a soft spot for Boris Johnson. In recent years, she has dug twice in her pocket to buy a tennis match with Johnson. Since he became head of government in July 2019, the woman, who now has a British passport, has given the Tories a total of £ 560,000.

There is Lew Michejew, an investment banker from Russia, living in London, who has donated six figures to the conservatives since they took over government affairs in 2010. The British press says that Micheev has offices in London "and in the immediate vicinity of the Kremlin".

"Make plans" over a bottle of wine

And there is just another example, Alexander Temerko, born in the Soviet Republic of Ukraine, in London since 2004, who passed on at least 1.3 million of his pounds earned in the energy sector to the Tories.

The man who has good contacts with Brexit hardliners often and likes to talk about his "friend" Boris Johnson. He once told the Reuters news agency that during Johnson's time as Secretary of State he often sat in his office and "made plans" with him over a bottle of wine.

The names Chernuchin, Michejew, Temerko and many other oligarchs and business people, some of whom have close ties to Russia, do not appear in the long-awaited 55-page report published by the British Parliamentary Committee for Intelligence and Security in London on Tuesday morning.

But pretty much everyone in the government district knows who should be meant when MEPs write that in the past few years various British governments have "received oligarchs and their money with open arms" and they have access "to the top" from business and politics procured. "Russian influence is the new normal in the United Kingdom," is the panel's unflattering verdict.

Nobody benefited more from oligarch money than the Tories

It was a long time, more than a year, before the report on Russia's influence on British politics was finally published. And if one read the publicly accessible section, one get an idea of why Boris Johnson and his cabinet are doing everything they can to ensure that the report is never made public before the parliamentary elections last December; and why Johnson tried unsuccessfully until recently to assign the chair of the secret service body to one of his most loyal, but at the same time considered above-average incompetent Tory colleagues - an unprecedented attempt to influence that triggered even under Tory's protest and ultimately led to an inner-party rebellion.

And it also becomes clear why Johnson's de facto deputy Dominic Raab hurried to express public outrage a few days ago about a supposed Russian attempt to influence the December election, typically an attempt from which the Labor opposition is said to have benefited indirectly. See, so Raab's clear message: Cosi fan tutte - everyone does it.

The present report, on the other hand, suggests unequivocally that no one in Great Britain in the past decade has benefited as unashamedly as the Tories from lucrative contacts to people whose connections to the Kremlin are sometimes more or less well documented. After the first degree, there is no evidence of criminal activity in the report. Nevertheless, it is at least embarrassing for Johnson and his colleagues. And possibly also politically dangerous in the long run.

Brexit vote in focus again

Because the parliamentarians, chaired by Tory renegade Julian Lewis, are once again highlighting the numerous Russian and Soviet-born oligarchs who have officially flushed conservatives at least £ 3.5 million into the election campaign box office since 2010. The panel even speaks of a "growing industry" of lobbyists who, whether willingly or not, are "de facto agents of the Russian state".

The fact that - research by the think tank Open Democracy - has significantly increased its financial contributions to the Tories since the middle of last year raises questions that apply above all to Boris Johnson. The subject, the parliamentarians write, has for years been treated like "a hot potato" that nobody wants to touch, not even the government.

A debate that has almost been forgotten when the kingdom officially left the EU on January 31 this year is again coming to the fore: the question of whether and how the 2016 Brexit referendum was won with Russian help.

The evidence for this is numerous, but there has never been definitive evidence. The British businessman Arron Banks, who has good contacts to Russia, was always of great interest. Banks had over £ 8m in the Leave.EU campaign before the referendum, making it the largest political donor in Britain's history. He has always denied that the money could come from Russia. But questions remain to this day.

MPs call for independent investigation

The Secret Service Committee cannot give any answers either. The main reason for this is that, during its years of research, it apparently did not receive any documents from either the government or its secret services. The changing Tory cabinets, the committee concludes, have "neither seen nor looked for" signs of Russian influence on the Brexit decision.

This is in "stark contrast" to the events in the United States, where special investigator Robert Mueller spent around two years dealing with the possible interference of Russian actors in the 2016 presidential election. In Britain, too, according to the will of the Secret Service Committee, there should finally be an independent investigation into the events surrounding the Brexit vote.

However, that remains a pious wish. As the committee released its findings at a press conference on Tuesday, the government released a statement saying "no retrospective evaluation of the referendum is necessary." Foreign Minister Raab said this was mainly because there was no "new information". But one thing he can assure, says Raab: "We will be resolute in defending our country, our democracy and our values."

https://www.spiegel.de/poli...

Yes, yes, Frank, but you seem to have forgotten what your own assertion was. If you had said that there is a lot of Russian influence in the Conservative and Unionist Party, I would have agreed with you.

But instead you decided to tell us that Boris Johnson is a secret adherent of the Kremlin.

Johnson is actually one of the most anti-Kremlin of British politicians. Is he naive and foolish in how it has infiltrated his party along with all others in Britain? Sure. But that's quite different to what you wrote.

1. johnson is actually THE man who decides when the report
is published and what.

2. where is the british investigation to this theme. triggered ie by johnson "the most antikremlin brit"??

3. where is YOUR personally investigation to this theme. as you wrote above that YOU are very interested in it. or is it better to dont investigatre to much as one could find something as the Spiegel says?? ;)

4. in the front johnson is antikremlin and in the back he has his hand open. like all the other brits. because the brit per se is bribeable. ;)

You are still tying yourself in knots Frank. You are trying to tell us that Boris Johnson is a secret adherent of Putin's regime. I think Johnson is a naïve bumbler, and I do not doubt that the Kremlin has bought off many in his party (and not only in his), but what you are suggesting is patent nonsense.

Remember what I wrote to you above: “The fascist regime in the Kremlin is working hard to get a closer relationship with Britain USA and Germany - and there are some in all three countries who wish that it would, because fascism is their ideal.”

And let’s not forget where this all started: I pointed out that Viktor Orban is cuddling up to the Kremlin. You clearly didn't like me saying that, but can’t come up with any relevant response.

"I think Johnson is a naïve bumbler,"

do your research and dont come with i do not think or i believe. wether brits are bribeable or not has nothing to do with orban. you use orban just as deflection because you fear the results of your own research. and this has nothing to do with me or my opinion.

merkel is not playling tennis or golf with some former russian ministers or their wifes. why? she is not bribeable. this buddy stuff what johnson is doing is simlar to what schröder did as chancellor. private meatings with putin.

“do your research and dont come with i do not think or i believe.”

Why not Frank? Your posts on this thread have been based entirely on unsupported opinion. And unlike you, my opinion about Boris Johnson is based on a lifetime of familiarity with the political situation here in Britain. And I have no political sympathy for Boris these days.

“wether brits are bribeable or not has nothing to do with orban.”

Indeed it doesn’t, which is what makes your attempts to deflect so obvious. Face the truth – Orban is a willing tool of Putin.

“you use orban just as deflection”

Sorry, Frank, a short review of this thread shows the opposite: I made a comment about Orban first, and then you have been madly deflecting after that. And you have been making a fool of yourself because you can’t tell the difference between Boris Johnson and many of his own party members.

“this buddy stuff what johnson is doing is simlar to what schröder did as chancellor. private meatings with putin.”

Holy Cow! So now you are claiming that the PM is having private meetings with Putin!! Do show me your evidence for that one, Frank! Well?

i personally think u will not get your little corruption problem under control on your own. one has to guide u.

germany: coruption, investigated, kicked out of office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

austria: corruption, kicked out of office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

uk: corruption, report delayed and cleaned. "this orban is way worse". so we will continue.

do you see your mistake?? and obviously is there no public pressure. at least not from Mr Alex George, the corruption hunter in austria, germany, hungary, france, russia and so on. even ukraine was more progressive. ;)

Stil trying to change the subject Frank? I can understand that - you clearly didn't like me pointing out the truth about Orban's friendship with Putin. Orban is Putin's man through and through.

But you still aren't getting it, when you try to argue that the love of many German and Austrian politicians for Putin is any less than that of many Brit politicians. Putin's claws are just as firmly into many parts of the German and Austrian political establishment as they are into parts of ours.

orban is like a brit. it depends on who pays him the most. ;)

No, I don't think that's adequate. Orban is like someone who has been permanently bought by Putin. Therefore like Schroeder in Germany and Yanukovych in Ukraine, and currently Dodon in Moldova, and no doubt a number of other politicians in many countries (including in Britain, as I have been saying for years now - you are late catching up!).

Sometimes Putin buys them with money, sometimes with kompromat. Its the old KGB playbook, but now done at a much higher level.

"Orban is like someone who has been permanently bought by Putin."

like the tories. schröder is out of office. yanuk also. but johnson cant leave because he is to much admiered by alex. you still dont get your problem. one has to remove such people from office.

No, you are still making naive errors. All the Tories haven't been bought by Putin, most likely just a few - that is Putin's usual m.o. Schroeder is out of office but others in his party like Steinmeier are not. Orban is not out of office, and neither is Dodon.

"johnson cant leave because he is to much admiered by alex. "

LOL You really are quite thick Frank - I don't admire Johnson at all. I just know that there is no evidence that he is a secret adherent of Putin - and despite several attempts, you have still not come up with any.

steinmeier is president and so silenced. we call this "praised away." havent heard anything from him the last year. exceot here on uawire.^^

"I just know that there is no evidence that he is a secret adherent of Putin."
how came? perhaps because johnson did not started an investigation against himself?? ^^
whome of the supposed bribeable torries johnson kicked out of office as PARTY LEADER? what are now the torries that are on putins paylist?

ie merkel kicked out former chancellor kohl. kurz in austria removed the whole FPÖ from office (over the weekend^^).

chancellor brandt retreated because he had an russian spy in his office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

You seem to be finally seeing sense, Frank. Yes, Orban is in Putin's pocket. And you still haven't come up with any evidence for your ill-judged suggestion that Boris Johnson is a secret adherent of Putin's regime. Boris is a naive fool, which is different to Orban and some of Boris' own MPs.

You need to appreciate the real issues with Kremlin influence in the British, German, Hungarian and other governments.

"The fact that - research by the think tank Open Democracy - has significantly increased its financial contributions to the Tories since the middle of last year raises questions that apply above all to Boris Johnson. The subject, the parliamentarians write, has for years been treated like "a hot potato" that nobody wants to touch, not even the government."

I think you've left out a word from your first sentence. Assuming its "Russia", then you are just continuing to flog a dead horse. As I have been saying for a long time, the Kremlin is pouring money into all parties in British politics, particularly the Tories.

That still doesn't justify your claim that Boris Johnson is a secret adherent of Putin. I am not aware of any evidence that he is, and many of the things he has said and done over the years indicate otherwise. He is naive and foolish in my view, but that's a different thing.

"Still, if you have some evidence that Boris is a secret adherent of Putin's regime, I’d be happy to look at it."

1 minute of investigative journalism with google or one could simple read british newspapers just in case one is really interested. ;)
as u can easily see, the brit per se dont say no to russian bribes.

https://www.theguardian.com...

I have wondered how many of the Russian oligarchs that "fled" Russia actually fled Russia. Or is it a shell game being played by Russia in order to infiltrate UK politics and these ex-Russian officials that became UK citizens with that intention to keep Russian influence without raising eyebrows being that they are now citizens. It's amazing that Russian oligarchs flee Russia with huge amounts of money available to sponsor UK politicians.

"Russian influence across the top levels of British society has now become "the new normal," the authors suggest, adding that "there are a lot of Russians with very close links to Putin who are well integrated into the UK business and social scene, and accepted because of their wealth."
Source: https://www.businessinsider...

in some european countries its considerable easy to get an european citizenship without the normal naturalisation process. one simple buys one. i think it was cyprius and hungary but dont nail me on it. and perhaps also the uk. now an uk expert could start an investigation as the names are known. but i think he will not do it as orban is way worse.^^

Those citizenships are done through what's known a "Golden Visa". One must invest money 1st in order to be granted citizenship. But according to a report they in the UK were giving citizenship before any money was invested by the rich Russian, thinking that the banks would scream "where's my money". Banks didn't scream. Maybe they didn't know that they were supposed to scream for incoming money. Somebody better tell them.
https://www.wired.co.uk/art...

Apparently the system is set up in UK in such a way that it's just easy for a Russian to get citizenship. Then the UK screams about too many immigrant Ukrainians and Poles who entered properly.

Orban was also giving away passports just like Putin was.

It ain't called Londongrad for nothing! Ex KGB types own The Independent and the Evening Standard newspapers. After living 10 years in Britain, you can apply for UK citizenship.

similar it will now happen with the hongkong chinese. uk will them all take in and throw a citizenship after them. because the hongkong ones are considered as rich. germany noticed this and will most likely do something similar. so it will become a headhunt for them.^^ but due to the brexit uk is not the entry to the eu anymore.

"Or is it a shell game being played by Russia in order to infiltrate UK politics"

No doubt whatsoever about that.

And the Brits are allowing it to happen via "Golden Visas". The Brits love Russian money.

That's right... you advertise yourself as a Brit.
https://www.wired.co.uk/art...

Many of our MPs certainly do, as I have been pointing out for years. ;o)

So where's this evidence, Frank? Your latest post is about Kremlin influence in the Conservative Party - that is hardly news. However your assertion was that Boris Johnson is a secret adherent of the Kremlin. Naive and foolish as Boris may be, you haven't shown anything to support that notion.

"1 minute of investigative journalism with google or one could simple read british newspapers"

Or you could live here. But it seems you didn't even spend the "1 minute". I'll let you have another go: What is your evidence that Boris is a secret adherent of Putin's regime?

Ubermenschen drive ubers. Uber uber alles!

Not sure what the purpose is. Unless they getting ready to take back they lands from the Ukraine.

You like to forget history just to cause trouble today that it was the Magyar/Hungarians that invaded their way into Europe through Ukraine. They're not indigenous to Europe at all. Which is OK. Too many years have gone by. Besides that... their music is OK .

2a6

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

The leopard hunts in darkness.

Wasn't that book title?
Wilbur Smith I believe.
Not mocking you. I loved the author but my brain is swiss cheese.

Well spotted. I liked reading Wilbur Smith when I was a teenager.

Yep he was a heck of an adventure writer. I actually felt like you learned something about a place and people I knew little.

He's married to a woman from Tajikistan now.

Wow.
Didn't see that coming.