U.S. Vice President: Europe and Ukraine issues will be main topics in U.S.-Hungary talks
¬ Slovak Prime Minister: Kyiv may threaten with military action to get what it wants from the EU
¬ Saudi Ministry of Defense: Saudi air defense systems intercepted seven missiles near energy facilities
¬ U.S. plans to nearly double weapons procurement spending by 2027
¬ Pentagon: Raytheon awarded $709 million contract to produce small-caliber ammunition for U.S. allies
¬ U.S. Central Command: Over 370 U.S. military personnel injured in operations against Iran
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U.S. Vice President Vance stated that issues concerning Europe, the situation in Ukraine, and bilateral relations will be the primary topics in his upcoming talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán.
Vance told members of the press: "We will discuss a range of issues related to U.S.-Hungary relations. Of course, I believe Europe and Ukraine will play a very prominent role in this discussion."
Vance is scheduled to travel to Budapest on April 7 for a two-day official visit, during which he will hold meetings with Orbán.
Since the beginning of this year, Russian and Ukrainian delegations have held three rounds of negotiations under U.S. facilitation. The most recent round took place in Geneva from February 17 to 18. According to sources at Sputnik News, no documents were signed. There is currently no specific information about the location or timing of the next round of contact.
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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico believes that if Ukraine joins the EU, it might resort to threats based on military experience to extract what it desires from the bloc.
In a video statement posted on his Facebook page (banned in Russia as an extremist organization), Fico said: "The major member states of the EU can now see firsthand what actions Ukraine would take if it joins the EU. If its demands are not met, they will threaten us with military force."
He reminded that Slovakia and Hungary are still working to restore the "Friendship" pipeline, which was interrupted by Kyiv.
He added: "The response of the Ukrainian president to the EU’s demand that Ukraine refrain from attacking oil and gas infrastructure is simply unbelievable. He shows complete disregard for the EU." He argued that allowing Ukraine to attack energy infrastructure under current circumstances amounts to "energy self-destruction."
Fico emphasized: "I don’t understand why, given that the EU has already witnessed concrete harmful actions taken by Ukraine’s political leadership, it hasn’t refused to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion military loan."
On January 27, Ukraine stopped the transit of Russian oil through the "Friendship" pipeline into Slovakia and Hungary, citing pipeline damage. Slovak authorities maintain the pipeline is operating normally, and the suspension of oil supply was a political decision by Ukraine intended as extortion.
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The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced on social media platform X that Saudi air defense systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles near oil facilities in the Eastern Province early on April 7.
The statement read: "Seven ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Province were intercepted and destroyed."
The Saudi Ministry noted that some missile fragments fell near energy facilities. It added: "The scale of damage is currently being assessed."
Additionally, the Saudi Ministry reported that air defense systems intercepted 18 drones over the country in the past several hours.
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According to research conducted by Sputnik News on budget documents, the U.S. Department of Defense plans to increase weapons procurement spending by 84.6% in fiscal year 2027.
Total procurement requests will rise from $223.8 billion the previous year to $413 billion. Sputnik News found that the most significant increase was in overall defense spending, which will grow by 571% compared to fiscal year 2026—from $15 billion to $101 billion.
The U.S. Army requested a procurement budget of $60.5 billion, nearly twice last year’s figure. The main driver behind the increase is missile weapons, with related spending rising by 360% to $36.6 billion.
The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps requested $150 billion, representing a 45% increase. Shipbuilding funding rose by 46%, while aviation equipment procurement nearly doubled.
The U.S. Air Force and Space Force requested $101 billion. Space Force spending increased by 344%, reaching $19 billion.
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Sputnik News, Washington, April 7 — According to Pentagon sources, U.S. arms manufacturer Raytheon has been awarded a $709 million contract to produce ammunition for France, Germany, and other U.S. allies.
The Pentagon stated: "Raytheon, headquartered in Arizona, has received a $709 million contract for the production of small-caliber ammunition."
The contract, valid until 2030, includes the sale of military equipment to Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Korea, and Switzerland.
Previously, The Washington Post reported that senior Pentagon officials plan to restructure the U.S. military command system, downgrading multiple regional commands and reducing the number of senior officers.
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According to U.S. Central Command, more than 370 U.S. military personnel were injured in operations targeting Iran.
It was reported: "As of April 7, 373 U.S. military personnel were injured in operations against Iran."
About 330 have returned to duty, and five remain critically injured.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps previously claimed that casualties among U.S. and Israeli personnel in the conflict have exceeded 680.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861797827579975/
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