⚛️ Russia’s EU ‘neighbors’ secretly plotting to get nukes – reports

◾️ European countries bordering Russia have quietly begun discussing developing their own nuclear deterrent for the first time since the Cold War, Bloomberg reports.

◾️ Talks are happening at the highest military levels among nations that host US bases.

◾️ The costs of developing nuclear forces would be enormous: the UK and France together spend nearly $12 billion annually to maintain their arsenals—more than half of the Swedish annual defense budget. Experts suggest that most European nations would not be able to afford replacing US nuclear weapons with their own.

📍 In March 2025, French President Macron proposed extending his country’s nuclear umbrella to the entire EU, claiming Russia pose a greater threat than ever.

🇵🇱 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has echoed the call for an arms race with Moscow. But the Kremlin has branded the idea "extremely confrontational" – given the growing NATO presence on Russia's borders.

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❌ Rubio skips Ukraine meeting with European leaders — reports

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out of a meeting with European leaders on Ukraine in Munich, citing scheduling conflicts, the Financial Times reported.

Rubio had been expected to take part in the so-called “Berlin Format” meeting with officials from Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission, but a US official said he was “engaging on Russia-Ukraine in many of his meetings here in Munich.”

💭 One European official told the FT the meeting lacked substance without US participation.

Rubio did meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with discussions focusing on Ukraine, negotiations with Russia, continued military support for the Kiev regime, NATO and Europe’s role within the alliance.

🇺🇸🇭🇺 After Munich, Rubio is set to travel to Budapest to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

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💣 US strikes alleged ‘narco-trafficking’ vessel in the Caribbean

US Southern Command said that on Feb. 13, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted what it described as a “lethal kinetic strike” on a vessel it claimed was operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations” and involved in alleged narco-trafficking in the Caribbean.

Three people were killed, SOUTHCOM said, adding that no US forces were harmed.

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⚔️ US preparing for possible weeks-long campaign against Iran — reports

The US military is preparing for the possibility of sustained operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two US officials told Reuters.

The planning could extend beyond nuclear sites to Iranian state and security facilities, with officials expecting potential Iranian retaliation and a back-and-forth exchange of strikes, Reuters reported.

💬 “President Trump has all options on the table with regard to Iran,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.

The report comes after US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman.

Reuters also reported the US ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to deploy to the Middle East.

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❌💰 DHS funding lapse looms as Senate blocks bill — reports

Funding for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expected to lapse this weekend after Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals, Fox News reported. The lapse would affect DHS only, as roughly 97% of the federal government is already funded through the end of FY2026.

📌 Key agencies under DHS would be impacted:

🔸 TSA – About 95% of its roughly 61,000 employees are deemed essential and would work without pay. Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said past shutdowns led some officers to sleep in cars and take second jobs.
🔸 Coast Guard – Would suspend all missions except those tied to national security or protection of life and property, Vice Commandant Adm. Thomas Allan told lawmakers.
🔸 Secret Service – Around 94% of its workforce would continue working without pay. Deputy Director Matthew Quinn warned reforms could be slowed.
🔸 ICE – Nearly 20,000 of roughly 21,000 employees are considered essential and would continue operations.
🔸 CISA – Would shift to a more defensive posture, reducing proactive cybersecurity activities.
🔸 FEMA – Could see slowed disaster-response work if the lapse continues, though its Disaster Relief Fund currently holds about $7 billion.

The lapse would begin at 12:01 a.m. Feb. 14, affecting only DHS operations, according to Fox News.

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💸🇺🇸 US to deliver about $15B in weapons for NATO-funded supplies to Ukraine — Rutte

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the US is delivering weapons for Ukraine “at the tune of a billion euros a month,” totaling about $15 billion this year (around €12 billion), with the purchases paid for by European and Canadian allies.

Speaking to PBS, Rutte said the flow includes “critical, lethal and non-lethal” aid, including interceptors to “take out Russian missiles,” adding there were “no pauses, no delays.”

⚠️ Russia has maintained that Western arms shipments to Ukraine hinder conflict resolution and directly involve NATO countries in the fighting. Russia has also warned that deliveries containing weapons for Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets.

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💥💣 New Russian Rus-PE loitering munition tested in combat zone

The Kalashnikov Concern has unveiled the Rus-PE portable reconnaissance-strike system at World Defence Show 2026 in Riyadh.

The loitering munition has already been tested on the front lines.

The Rus-PE is a portable, aerodynamic munition launched from a wearable container, capable of detecting and identifying both stationary and moving targets using artificial intelligence.

Check out Sputnik's infographic to find out more!

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