An annual strategy document, which has described threats from China to Russia, directs some of its harshest language at NATO allies.

Putin also claimed that Zelensky’s European allies have pushed for demands that are “absolutely unacceptable."

As Moscow becomes more bullish in its hybrid warfare tactics to provoke Nato, James C. Reynolds looks at how both armies and economies compare

It took far too long, but Europe is finally getting serious about military spending. This summer, at NATO’s most recent summit in The Hague, member states agreed to increase defense spending substantially, to 5 percent of GDP, within a decade.

Much of the continent’s eastern half would thus want Europe to isolate Russia yet more firmly. Many in its western half, in contrast, crave normality. With the war over, they would ask whether Europe really need spend all that money on defence.

Europe is in a state of decline. In 1980 the European Union, which then included the United Kingdom, represented roughly 30% of the world economy. The U.S.’ share was smaller, about 25%. Today the American share of the pie is about the same at 26%.

U.S. pursues peace talks in Europe while building largest Caribbean military presence in decades, targeting Venezuela's powerful Cartel de los Soles.

The European Union is closing in on a deal to phase out Russian fossil fuels, a move that will embed into law the end of the bloc’s reliance on its former top energy supplier.