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French defense chief says Europe must ready itself for major war

Catherine Vautrin believes that preparing for such a conflict "is the best way to avoid it"

PARIS, February 13. /TASS/. Europe needs to prepare for a "high-intensity conflict," French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin said.

"From the moment a conflict broke out on the European continent, it became necessary for us to prepare for a high-intensity conflict," she told Euronews.

Vautrin believes that preparing for such a conflict "is the best way to avoid it." "This is what we are doing," the defense chief noted.

The minister emphasized that France "maintains its whole army in a state of full combat readiness." "Commanding respect requires inspiring fear," Vautrin added.

In November 2025, France's Chief of the Defense Staff General Fabien Mandon called on the country’s people to be prepared "to lose their children" in order to deter Russia. He claimed that Paris "has all the knowledge, economic and demographic power" to confront Moscow. Earlier, Mandon warned that the French army must be prepared to enter into a conflict with Russia in three to four years.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed European politicians’ "mantra" about a potential war with Russia as nonsense.

Germany sends Ukraine 55 bln euro in military aid since 2022 — top diplomat

Johann Wadephul said that Germany is Ukraine’s biggest sponsor

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Ukraine contact group agrees to deliver $35 billion worth of weapons to Ukraine — Healey

Moscow has repeatedly stated that sending more military aid to Ukraine delays a solution to the conflict

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Denis Shmygal expressed optimism that repairs could be completed within two days

Russia’s Ufa submarine heads from Baltic Sea to Pacific — Russian Defense Ministry

The main attack system is the Kalibr-PL armed with high-precision missiles

US patience running low as Zelensky tries to gain time — Russian senator

The authorities in Kiev repeatedly floated the idea of holding a referendum or a presidential election before they backtracked on those plans, citing a lack of sufficient funds to hold them, Igor Kastyukevich maintained

Taiwan, US sign trade agreement on tariff reduction — newspaper

According to the publication, the rate of US duties on Taiwanese imports will be maintained at 15%, while Taiwanese semiconductors and related goods will receive the most favorable treatment when supplied to the United States

Russia to send batch of oil to Cuba as humanitarian aid — Russian embassy

Russia’s ministry of economic development has recommended Russian tourists refrain from visiting Cuba amid the "fuel emergency" in the country

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Alexander Grushko says NATO, EU "want to confront" Russia, China in the region

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Three people sustained injuries as a result of the Ukrainian drone strike in the Volgograd Region

Rutte is engaging in verbal escalation, threatening Russia — legislator

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The negotiations will be held between Russia, Ukraine and the United States

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The top Russian diplomat stressed that linguistic, cultural and religious rights of those who remain under Kiev’s authority must be restored

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Dmitry Peskov noted that some continue to adhere to the previous approach, "completely short-sighted, irrational, and unreasonable"

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Russia delivers precision strike on Ukrainian army’s energy infrastructure over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 210 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a Grad multiple launch rocket system in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

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Ukrainian intel agent tortured by Kiev after saving elderly woman’s life

Sergey Mykhailov explained that the elderly woman’s rescue was used as a pretext for accusing him of sympathizing with Donbass residents

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Netanyahu believes conditions may be created for good deal with Iran

The Israeli PM stressed that he "expressed general skepticism regarding the nature of any agreement with Iran" during the meeting with the US President Donald Trump

Russia wouldn’t want US tariffs over aid to Cuba, but trade is at zero anyway — Kremlin

The US administration announced its intention to impose proportional import duties on goods from countries that dare to supply Cuba with fuel

UN envoy to Cyprus praises Russian peacekeepers for their work

The servicemen monitor the ceasefire line, the buffer zone, do intercommunal work, Khassim Diagne says

Lavrov tells US to keep out of regions that don't concern it

The foreign minister stressed that despite Washington's statements that its only area of interest is the Western Hemisphere, the US is actually "working hard to push its interests" in other regions too

IIHF chief Luc Tardif calls for Russia's swift return to intl ice hockey

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Russian troops liberate four communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russian troops also deliver seven strikes on Ukrainian military sites over week

Moscow court arrests ex-head of FESCO Group in case of embezzlement

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Russia pushes Ukrainian troops out of two towns in Zaporozhye Region — military expert

Andrey Marochko says that the servicemen are clearing the territories of the towns

Russia to skip first Board of Peace meeting — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, "work to formulate Moscow’s position on the Board of Peace is ongoing"

Ukraine may agree to withdraw from Donbass — The Atlantic

Vladimir Zelensky says basic questions in the security guarantee deal with the US "remain unsolved"

Russia to provide Cuba with material assistance — MFA

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that, while there is no immediate prospect of coordinated action within the BRICS alliance, various options remain on the table depending on how the situation evolves

US to redirect aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford from Caribbean Sea to Middle East — NYT

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US President also said that a deal could be achieved over the next month

Oil supplies to Slovakia over Druzhba pipeline suspended — Bloomberg

Slovakia has strategic reserves of oil and petroleum products for about ninety days, the ministry says

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Maria Zakharova noted that in Tokyo and other Japanese cities rallies were held on "the so-called Day of Northern Territories" on February 7, where claims to Russia’s Kuril Islands were raised

Ukraine to receive $38 bln worth of Western weapons in 2026 — defense ministry

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No US security guarantees for Kiev before peace deal with Moscow — Politico

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Macron says talks with Putin unlikely in near future

France is "preparing the ground" for the conversation, the president has sent the diplomatic adviser to Moscow, he says

Zelensky exploits Western media rumors to mock US — opposition politician

Viktor Medvedchuk believes that such actions put the American president in an awkward position

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Russian president's press service uses AI — Kremlin

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UN not yet invited to Board of Peace meeting in Washington — official

Stephane Dujarric says Ramiz Alakbarov may coordinate UN, Board of Peace cooperation

Moscow Zoo celebrates 162nd anniversary

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Chilean president denounces blockade of Cuba as crime

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