The NATO summit wrapped Wednesday with the allies offering assurances to President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv’s future lies in the alliance – and appearing to calm Ukrainian frustrations over a lack of a timeline for membership.
US President Joe Biden said NATO remained unified even though Russian President Vladimir Putin was betting the conflict would divide the alliance.
A high-profile Russian general in occupied southern Ukraine said he was dismissed after accusing the defense ministry of betraying soldiers by not providing sufficient support.
Another commander, Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who has not been seen in public since the failed Wagner-led rebellion last month, is “resting,” a Moscow lawmaker said. Documents shared with CNN in June indicated Surovikin was a secret member of the private military company.
A senior Russian general in Ukraine is dismissed. Here's the latest on the war in Ukraine
From CNN staff
A high-profile Russian general in command of forces in occupied southern Ukraine said he was dismissed from his post after accusing the defense ministry of betraying Russian soldiers by not providing sufficient support.
General Ivan Popov was the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, which has been involved in heavy fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region. He is one of the most senior officers involved in the Russian campaign in Ukraine.
The public resignation or dismissal of such a senior officer amid an open dispute over the conduct of the Russian campaign is unprecedented, according to analysts.
Here are other headlines you should know:
On the ground: Ukrainian forces are making further advances in the Bakhmut area and rebuffed Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donetsk region, according to officials. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Ukraine’s forces successfully held back the Russian offensive in the Kupyansk, Lyman, Avdiivka and Marinka directions — all areas of the front lines where the Russians have made repeated attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses.
Death of a general: A popular Russian state television program appeared to confirm the death of a Russian general in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials had claimed that Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of the Southern Military District, was among a number of Russians killed in a Ukrainian missile strike Tuesday. The attack was targeted on a Russian headquarters in the occupied city of Berdiansk, Ukrainian officials said. Independent analysts and CNN’s own tally indicate that Russia has lost about 10 generals in combat since the invasion began.
NATO summit takeaways: US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders unveiled a substantial show of support for Ukraine at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, offering a joint declaration of support for Kyiv aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability. However, there was still no invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance. In his nightly address after the summit, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism about Ukraine’s path to becoming a member of NATO. The Russian foreign ministry, for its part, said the NATO summit demonstrated that the alliance has “finally returned to the Cold War schemes.” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would “be glad to act as a mediator” between Russia and Ukraine if the two countries agreed to such a proposition.
Military assistance: Estonia’s prime minister defended her support for the United States’ decision to provide Ukraine with controversial cluster bombs. And British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that Kyiv’s allies “want to see gratitude” from Ukraine for their support while recalling how he told Ukrainian officials during a visit to Kyiv in June of 2022 that the UK was not “Amazon” when he was given a list of weapons demands. Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the US not to grow weary of Ukraine’s grinding battle against Russia.
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1 person dead and 2 injured as Ukraine intercepts Russian UAVs over Kyiv region, local officials say
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva
One person was killed in Kyiv after Ukrainian air defenses intercepted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the region early Thursday morning, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
According to Klitschko, the body of a man was found while responders were extinguishing an apartment building fire in Kyiv’s Podil district.
Air defense systems intercepted Russian airstrikes launched early on Thursday morning, the Kyiv Regional Military Administration said on Telegram.
“Air defense is operating in the region, on the outskirts of Kyiv city. Stay in shelters until the air raid is over!” said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration.
Klitschko reported damage in several parts of the capital and said two injured people in the Darnytsia district have been hospitalized.
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“We have removed any doubts” that Ukraine will join NATO, Zelensky says
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva
Volodymyr Zelensky addresses journalists during the final national press conference during the high level NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania on Tuesday.
Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expressing optimism about Ukraine’s path to becoming a member of NATO.
At the summit, US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders unveiled a substantial show of support for Ukraine, offering a joint declaration of support for Ukraine aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability.
“These are concrete security guarantees that are confirmed by the top 7 democracies in the world. Never before have we had such a security foundation,” Zelensky said.
In his address, he also thanked the countries that are set to begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 combat aircraft.
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Key US senator says deal to sell F-16s to Turkey not there yet
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Manu Raju
A key US House Foreign Affairs Committee member on Wednesday acknowledged progress from Turkey after its decision to support Sweden’s NATO bid – and suggested it could yield progress on a sale of F-16s to Ankara — but a key US Senate Foreign Relations Committee member said that a deal is not yet sealed.
“Turkey’s announcement to drop objections to Sweden’s NATO accession is a significant step forward in addressing the concerns I and many members of Congress have related to approving significant pending weapons packages for Turkey,” House Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Gregory Meeks said in a statement to CNN.
“Along with ensuring Sweden’s accession proceeds without further delays, I’ve called on Turkey to cease its violations of Greek sovereignty — both by air and sea — and engage in dialogue to de-escalate those tensions,” the New York Democrat said. “Additionally, I hope to see Turkey follows through with commitments to fully implement sanctions on entities providing sensitive military equipment to Russia, cracks down on Russian money laundering, and stop striking our Syrian Kurdish allies.”
However, The ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch, told CNN that “the F-16 deal is not in writing at this point.”
As CNN reported Tuesday, Biden administration officials had been heavily engaged with lawmakers to try to shift opponents to the F-16 sale, many of whom had tied the issue to Turkey allowing Sweden’s NATO bid to move forward.
One of the key opponents, Sen. Bob Menendez, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNN on Tuesday afternoon that “as of now” he remains opposed.
Some context: Weapons sales are approved by Congress, and once the administration formally informs Congress it intends to sell arms, lawmakers have 30 days to block the deal, which they can do by passing a joint resolution of disapproval.
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Senior Russian general in Ukraine says he was dismissed after criticizing lack of support for troops
From CNN's Tim Lister and Uliana Pavlova
General Ivan Popov in an undated photo.
Teoyaomiquu/Twitter
A high-profile Russian general in command of forces in occupied southern Ukraine says he has been dismissed from his post after accusing the defense ministry of betraying Russian soldiers by not providing sufficient support.
General Ivan Popov was the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, which has been involved in heavy fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region. He is one of the most senior officers involved in the Russian campaign in Ukraine.
In a voice note, Popov said that he raised questions about “the lack of counter-battery combat, the absence of artillery reconnaissance stations and the mass deaths and injuries of our brothers from enemy artillery. I also raised a number of other problems and expressed it all at the highest level frankly and extremely harshly.”
Popov said that the Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu then dismissed him.
Popov’s audio message was relayed by Andrey Gurulev, a member of the Russian parliament and a former Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District, on his Telegram channel.
The public resignation or dismissal of such a senior officer amid an open dispute over the conduct of the Russian campaign is unprecedented, according to analysts.
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Ex-British prime minister warns US against "Ukraine fatigue" and says victory over Russia is vital
From CNN's Sophie Tanno
Boris Johnson addresses the Global Soft Power Summit on March 2, in London, England.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the United States not to grow weary of Ukraine’s grinding battle against Russia and said that victory over Moscow is imperative.
He said that there could be “no possible excuse” to delay Ukraine’s NATO membership.
US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders unveiled a substantial show of support for Ukraine on the final day of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania — offering a joint declaration of support aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s military capability.
Biden acknowledged that the alliance did not invite Ukraine to membership during the summit as it works on “necessary reforms,” but said it would continue to boost the country’s security. Biden has emphasized that Ukraine is not ready to enter NATO, telling CNN in an exclusive interview last week that Russia’s war in Ukraine needs to end before the alliance can consider adding Kyiv to its ranks.
During his time as Britain’s prime minister, Johnson was a vocal supporter of Ukraine and developed a close working relationship with Zelensky, becoming one of the first foreign leaders to make the precarious trip to Kyiv. Johnson resigned as prime minister in September 2022 and as a member of parliament in June, in the wake of scandals over his handling of the UK’s coronavirus crisis.
On Wednesday he warned that aside from the Russian army, the biggest enemy that the Ukrainians have in the conflict is “Ukraine fatigue.”
"I think war made me stronger." Ukraine’s tennis star discusses her remarkable Wimbledon run
From CNN's George Ramsay
Elina Svitolina plays against Iga Swiatek of Poland in the Ladies' Singles quarter-final match during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships in London, on Tuesday. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Tim Clayton/Corbis/Getty Images
Ukrainian Elina Svitolina says Russia’s invasion of her country has made her “mentally stronger” on the tennis court as she continues her stunning run at Wimbledon.
Svitolina, who returned to tennis this year following the birth of her daughter in October, reached a grand slam semifinal for the third time in her career on Tuesday, ousting world No. 1 Iga Świątek 7-5 6-7 (5) 6-2.
The former world No. 3 received a wildcard entry for Wimbledon but now has a chance to reach a first-ever major final when she faces the Czech Republic’s Markéta Vondroušová on Thursday.
That would cap off a whirlwind period in Svitolina’s career, during which she has been at the forefront of tennis’ humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine. The 28-year-old says that the war, combined with the birth of her daughter, has changed her perspective on sport and life.
“I think war made me stronger and also made me mentally stronger,” Svitolina told reporters after her victory against Świątek.
“Mentally, I don’t take difficult situations as like a disaster,” said Svitolina. “There are worse things in life. I’m just more calm.
“I think also, because I’m just starting to play again, I have different pressures. Of course, I want to win. I have this huge motivation to come back to the top, but I think having a child, and war, made me a different person. I look at things a bit differently.”
Estonian prime minister backs US decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine
From CNN's Bianna Golodryga, Zoe Cantley, and Lauren Kent
Estonia’s prime minister is defending her support for the United States’ decision to provide Ukraine with controversial cluster bombs.
Cluster munitions, also called cluster bombs, are canisters that carry and release smaller bomblets that fall to the ground. They are more controversial than other bombs because unexploded munitions can then be detonated by civilian activity years or even decades later, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Kallas also expressed her support for Ukraine to join NATO and said that allies agree that Ukraine’s place is ultimately in the alliance. She said the window of opportunity for Ukraine’s membership may come after the war is over.
“The question is not if but when it will happen and we have agreed [on] practical steps and pathways to get there,” Kallas told CNN. “So if those conditions are met, the opportunity window opens when the war ends, then we can admit Ukraine into NATO and have this article five coverage also for Ukraine.”
From CNN’s Bianna Golodryga, Zoe Cantley, and Lauren Kent
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Ukraine claims further progress around Bakhmut and in southern Ukraine
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Ukrainian forces are making further advances in the Bakhmut area and rebuffed Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donetsk region, according to officials.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Ukraine’s defense forces successfully held back the Russian offensive in the Kupyansk, Lyman, Avdiivka and Marinka directions — all areas of the front lines where the Russians have made repeated attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses.
Ukrainian forces have been trying to take higher ground on the northern and southern edges of the city.
CNN cannot verify Ukrainian accounts of battlefield gains.
In the south: Maliar said the military “continued their offensive today on the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions,” and are “performing many tasks aimed at weakening the enemy.”
She said because Ukrainian fighters destroyed a “large number of ammunition depots” the number of Russian attacks has decreased. Ukraine has stepped up missile and long-range artillery attacks on Russian logistics and command hubs in the south.
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Russia says NATO has returned to its “Cold War schemes” following summit in Lithuania
From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova
The Russian foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the results of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, demonstrate that the military alliance has “finally returned to the Cold War schemes.”
“The ‘collective West’ led by the United States is not ready to put up with the formation of a multipolar world and intends to defend its hegemony by all available means, including military ones,” the ministry said in a statement.
In the same statement, the foreign ministry said Moscow will carefully analyze the results of the summit in Vilnius and respond in a timely manner “using all means and methods at our disposal.”
The ministry also vowed that Russia would continue to strengthen its military and defense system.
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UK is not "Amazon" for weapons deliveries, British defense secretary says he told Ukraine last year
From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace arrives at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 15.
Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP/Getty Images/File
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on Wednesday that Kyiv’s allies “want to see gratitude” from Ukraine for their support while recalling how he told Ukrainian officials during a visit to Kyiv in June of 2022 that the UK was not “Amazon,” the global retail site, when he was given a list of weapons demands.
Wallace said ally countries are helping Ukraine, not just for their sovereignty, but also for wider freedoms. He said Ukrainian officials sometimes need to persuade officials to authorize that aid, like lawmakers on Capitol Hill in the United States, for example.
“You’ve got to persuade doubting politicians in other countries that it’s worth it and it’s worthwhile and they’re getting something for it,” Wallace said. “And you will sometimes hear grumbles not from the administration in the American system, but you’ll hear from lawmakers on the Hill: ‘We’ve given $83 billion worth or whatever, you know, we’re not Amazon,’” again referring to the online store.
Zelensky, in response to the defense secretary’s comments, said, “We have always been very grateful to the United Kingdom, always grateful to the prime minister, or perhaps I should say prime ministers, and to the defense minister, Mr. Wallace.”
“I just don’t really understand what the issue is. We are grateful, Britain is our partner. Maybe the minister wants something special?” he added.
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NATO assured Ukraine that the country's future is with the alliance during the final day of summit
From CNN's Betsy Klein
Security guarantees from leading nations and assurances that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO appeared to calm brewing worries that Ukrainian frustrations at not being admitted to the alliance would overshadow one of the most significant bloc summits in recent memory.
US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders unveiled a substantial show of support for Ukraine Wednesday at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, offering a joint declaration of support for Ukraine aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability.
Still no invitation for Ukraine to join alliance: Biden acknowledged that the alliance did not invite Ukraine to membership during the summit as it works on “necessary reforms,” but, he said, “We’re not waiting on that process to be finished” to boost the country’s security.
Biden has emphasized that Ukraine is not ready to enter NATO, telling CNN in an exclusive interview last week that Russia’s war needs to end before the alliance can consider adding Kyiv to its ranks.
Ukraine has been a dominant item on the summit’s agenda as the US president sought to keep the group united behind President Volodymyr Zelensky in the face of Russia’s invasion. Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday and issued a blistering statement expressing his frustration at not receiving more specific details on when and how Ukraine would join the alliance.
However, it appears he heard enough to go home happy, saying, “The results of the summit are good” during a news conference with the alliance’s chief. Among the moves NATO took was agreeing to remove one requirement for Ukrainian entrance to the group — a Membership Action Plan — given Kyiv’s close relationship with NATO nations. It did not provide a firm timeline for when the Ukrainians will become official members.
New military aid for Ukraine: The G7 issued a three-page document detailing the joint declaration agreement shortly after the leaders spoke on Wednesday.
“Today we are launching negotiations with Ukraine to formalize – through bilateral security commitments and arrangements aligned with this multilateral framework, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements – our enduring support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens, and pursues integration into the Euro-Atlantic community,” the declaration said, adding that those discussions will begin “immediately.”
It will work on “bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements towards” three goals.
The first goal is “ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future,” through the provision of security assistance and modern military equipment, support for Ukraine’s industrial base development, training for forces, intelligence sharing and cooperation, and support for cyber defense, security and resilience initiatives.
The second goal is “strengthening Ukraine’s economic stability and resilience, including through reconstruction and recovery efforts, to create the conditions conducive to promoting Ukraine’s economic prosperity, including its energy security.”
The third goal is “providing technical and financial support for Ukraine’s immediate needs stemming from Russia’s war as well as to enable Ukraine to continue implementing the effective reform agenda that will support the good governance necessary to advance towards its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.”
The announcement will start a process of bilateral negotiations with Kyiv, National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters.
Analysis: Biden can leave Vilnius feeling like he got almost everything he wanted from NATO summit
From CNN's Stephen Collinson
President Joe Biden got almost everything he wanted from the NATO summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shot for the stars and reached the moon – securing a permanent rearmament pipeline well into the future from G7 nations but failing to win the collective defense guarantee that membership in NATO would bring.
And Russia saw its strategic and military failure entrenched but will surely view the institutionalizing of support for Ukraine as confirming its suspicions of the West.
The summit ended on Wednesday with a joint declaration from G7 leaders for their nations to negotiate long-term bilateral security commitments for Ukraine to build up its land, sea and air defenses to deter future Russian attacks.
And while the leaders eased the pathway for Ukraine’s eventual membership, they deferred a fateful geopolitical decision, possibly for their successors, by stating that it had yet to meet economic and political conditions for joining.
The other landmark moment of the summit was Turkey’s sudden dropping of its veto on Sweden becoming the alliance’s 32nd member – which followed months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy by the Biden administration — overseas and in the US Congress.
Biden, NATO’s most important leader, went into the summit determined to maintain his balancing act of bolstering Western support for Ukraine’s existential struggle while avoiding the outbreak of a war with Russia, a nuclear superpower. He also needed to remind Americans why billions of dollars of taxpayer cash must continue to be sent to Kyiv, which is becoming a 2024 campaign issue. And before he left Lithuania, he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the summit was evidence the Western alliance would not waver.
Zelensky barnstormed into Vilnius in typical style, using moral and media pressure to pressure NATO leaders to go further on their guarantees. His tone risked offending foreign leaders who have faced questions at home over bankrolling Ukrainian resistance. Still, Zelensky’s vehemence is understandable since he doesn’t just have a restless electorate to placate.
US President Joe Biden answers questions from the press prior to boarding at the Vilnius International Airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
A meeting between President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky “went very well,” the US president said Wednesday.
He noted that “there was some cynicism about whether I could talk the Turks into Sweden,” a reference to Turkey’s last-minute agreement to permit Sweden to join the military alliance.
Biden said he is confident Turkey will continue its support of Sweden’s membership as well as of US Congressional approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.
Biden said he does not see Kyiv joining NATO until “the war is over,” but shed some light on his conversation with the Ukrainian president.
“Look, the one thing Zelensky understands now is that whether or not he’s in NATO now is not relevant as long as he has the commitments,” he said, comparing the situation to “how we deal with Israel.
“So he’s not concerned,” Biden said.
Asked about the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Biden said he is “not at liberty to give you the detail of that – we talked at length about it with all of his military people there and they’re still optimistic but they know it’s a hard slog.”
Biden said Ukraine already has “the equivalent of ATACMS,” which are long-range missiles, but needs artillery shells. He added that Ukraine was “very satisfied” with what was being provided.
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Russian state TV appears to confirm death of Russian general in Ukraine
From CNN's Josh Pennington
A popular Russian state television program has appeared to confirm the death of a Russian general in Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have claimed that Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of the Southern Military District, was among a number of Russians killed in a Ukrainian missile strike early on Tuesday. The attack was targeted on a Russian headquarters in the occupied city of Berdiansk, Ukrainian officials said.
The host of the show Olga Skabeeva said on Wednesday’s show, “It’s been clarified for our TV audience, although there’s been no official information from the Ministry of Defense, all the press has already reported it,” adding that the deputy commander was killed.
Her guest, Andrey Gurulev, himself a former deputy commander of the Southern Military District and now a member of the Russian Parliament, said Tsokov was “a man who has seen troubles that few people could even dream of.”
“He was severely wounded last year and barely pulled out,” the guest said, adding that Tsokov chose to go back to fight even after being injured.
Some context: The Southern Military District has been heavily involved in the invasion since it began in February 2022. The Southern is one of four land districts into which the Russian armed forces are organized.
Independent analysts and CNN’s own tally indicate that Russia has lost about 10 generals in combat since the invasion began.
CNN’s Tim Lister and Josh Pennington contributed reporting to this post.
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NATO chief says burden of Ukraine war is well-shared between North American and European allies
From CNN's Melissa Bell and Chris Liakos in Vilnius, and Lauren Kent in London
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during an interview on Wednesday.
CNN
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the burden of the Ukraine war is well-shared between North American and European allies.
When asked about US national security adviser Jake Sullivan’s recent comments suggesting that Americans deserve some gratitude for the large amount of support given to Ukraine, Stoltenberg emphasized that all NATO allies have stepped up in terms of both economic and military support.
“European allies and Canada have really also stepped up. They are providing support of tens of billions of US dollars. [There were] big new announcements just during this summit. So they provide a lot of military support, but also they have received millions of refugees and they are providing a lot of economic and humanitarian support,” Stoltenberg told CNN’s Melissa Bell on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Stoltenberg also said that new figures showed the biggest increase in defense spending for decades, across both Europe and Canada, which he called “a direct result” of the war in Ukraine.
“The reality is that NATO’s more united now than for many, many years because we face the threat of the consequences of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said. “That has united the alliance. It has made us even more determined.”
The secretary seneral also acknowledged the requests for additional military support made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I fully understand that President Zelensky is asking for as much as possible and therefore also glad that he – actually at this summit – also welcomed the decisions we made on sustaining and stepping our support,” Stoltenberg said.
In addition to new packages of military support, Stoltenberg noted that NATO allies also used the summit in Vilnius to state that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.”
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Biden says the defense of freedom is the "calling of our lifetime" while rebuking Russia over invasion
US President Joe Biden said that the defense of freedom is the “calling of our lifetime” while forcefully rebuking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during his speech Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Biden went on to praise the commitment shown by Lithuania in supporting Ukraine.
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Biden: "Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken"
US President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Vilnius University during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.
Yves Herman/Reuters
Speaking at the end of the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed US support for Ukraine.
Biden remarked that despite nearly a year and a half of war, Ukraine remains free and independent. He also emphasized that everyone wants the war to end on just terms which withhold the basic principles of the United Nations charter — sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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Biden: Putin thought NATO unity would shatter during Russia's war in Ukraine, but "he thought wrong"
NATO has remained unified throughout the war in Ukraine, while Russian President Vladimir Putin was betting the conflict would break the alliance apart, US President Joe Biden said.
Biden, speaking after the NATO summit in Lithuania on Wednesday, emphasized that the alliance is “more vital to our shared future.”
The US and NATO “stepped up” together, Biden said, pointing to the beginning of the war when he said he was in constant contact with other world leaders in the alliance and the European Union. He said from then on, allied countries have continued to support Ukraine as they “defend their integrity and sovereignty.”
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NOW: Biden is speaking at the end of NATO summit
US President Joe Biden appears on stage to deliver a speech at Vilnius University during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.
Yves Herman/Reuters
US President Joe Biden is speaking as the two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, draws to a close after addressing the two key items on its agenda: Sweden’s pending membership to NATO and support and membership path for Ukraine.
On Monday — just a day before the summit began — NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg announced the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had agreed to approve Sweden’s bid for membership. The parliament will vote to ratify the membership in the fall. Before Biden held his bilateral meeting with Erdogan, he thanked the Turkish president for his diplomacy on the matter.
On Ukraine’s membership, there were more tensions. Zelensky had criticized the US-led alliance, saying it was “absurd” that Kyiv had not been provided with a timeline for Ukraine’s invitation or membership to NATO. Subsequently, while a firm timeline is still unavailable, NATO agreed to remove one requirement for Ukrainian entrance to the group – a Membership Action Plan – given Kyiv’s close relationship with NATO nations.
Biden has acknowledged that the alliance did not invite Ukraine to membership during the summit as it works on “necessary reforms,” but, he said, “We’re not waiting on that process to be finished” to boost the country’s security.
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Russian defense ministry says Wagner has handed over tanks and other weapons
From CNN’s Uliana Pavlova
The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that the Wagner mercenary group has completed the handover of all its military equipment to the regular Russian armed forces.
According to the ministry’s statement, Wagner has given up more than 2,000 weapons and other systems, including main battle tanks, such as the T-90, T-80 and T-72B3.
Wagner had also handed over Grad and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems.
The transfer follows the abortive mutiny launched by Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin at the end of last month.
For months before the failed mutiny, Prigozhin accused the Defense Ministry of starving Wagner of equipment and ammunition.
After the failed mutiny, the Wagner fighters were given the option to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, join Prigozhin in exile in Belarus or return home.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Belarus Ministry of Internal Affairs said the country’s special forces would carry out combat training with Wagner fighters, according to state media reports.
It’s unclear how many Wagner personnel have relocated to Belarus.
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18 injured by aerial object falling in Zaporizhzhia city, military says
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
At least 18 people have been injured in the city of Zaporizhzhia due to an “unidentified hostile aerial object,” according to the regional military administration in the city.
Yurii Malashko, head of Zaporizhzhia’s regional military administration, said six children are among those injured. The incident happened Wednesday afternoon.
Anatolii Kurtiev, secretary of Zaporizhzhia City Council, said windows had been broken in six apartment buildings in a residential area of the city.
Zaporizhzhia is not far from the front lines in southern Ukraine.
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Russia is militarily and politically fragile, French president says
From CNN’s Joseph Ataman in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a news conference during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
Russia is currently “fragile, militarily and politically,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday in a speech at the NATO summit in Lithuania.
He said there are “signs of division in Russia,” seemingly referring to the recent short-lived rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner group.
The French president pledged to “be there” for Ukraine, even if the war is a “war of attrition,” adding that the support for Kyiv is sustainable.
However, the French leader said NATO allies must do more for Ukraine, adding that the time to do so is now, during the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
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Ukrainian official says G7 declaration is an "important victory" for the country
From CNN's Julia Kesaieva in Kyiv and Tim Lister
The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, is pictured during a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 29.
The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, described the NATO summit in Lithuania as successful for Ukraine, stressing that the Group of 7 declaration of support is an “important victory.”
Yermak said in a Telegram post that the NATO summit had been “not easy, but successful.”
“We have powerful defense agreements and a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine agreed by the G7 countries. It is an important step towards the conclusion of a system of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and individual guarantor countries on security guarantees for our country,” he said.
“The next step is to conclude a system of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and individual guarantor countries,” he added.
Yermak also pointed to the creation of mechanisms for collecting reparations and prosecution of those responsible for alleged war crimes against Ukraine.
“It is important that we win the war and sign security guarantees for our country before the NATO summit in Washington in 2024. They will be valid until we join NATO,” he concluded.
What’s in the G7 declaration: The document outlined that G7 countries will work with Ukraine on “bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements” toward three goals, including:
“Ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future”
“Strengthening Ukraine’s economic stability and resilience”
“Providing technical and financial support for Ukraine’s immediate needs stemming from Russia’s war as well as to enable Ukraine to continue implementing the effective reform agenda”
CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this post.
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UK defense secretary says NATO is "struggling" to keep ammunition flowing to Ukraine
From CNN's Natasha Bertrand in Vilnius, Lithuania
UK Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said NATO countries “are struggling to find ways” to keep ammunition supplied to Ukraine as Russia’s full-scale invasion continues past 500 days.
“Huge amounts of munitions are being fired and used,” he said at a panel during the NATO summit In Vilnius, Lithuania.
Wallace told CNN on Wednesday that because of the shortages, he understands why the US opted to provide controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine in an attempt to fill the gap. But he said that since the UK has adopted a ban on those munitions, it cannot promote their use in any way.
“At one level, I understand the military requirement that the Ukrainians were facing,” he said. “And the United States is not a signatory to that treaty, so it frees them up to do what they feel is right.”
US President Joe Biden told CNN last week that the US is “running low” on ammunition stockpiles that it can send to Ukraine, which is a reason why Biden decided to send the munitions. The provision of the cluster munitions is temporary, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said last week, until the US can ramp up its production of unitary ammunition.
Wallace said the broader question of a stockpile issue is a serious concern because of the amount of supplies Ukraine has needed to carry out its counteroffensive.
“The supplying of equipment to Ukraine has been huge, vast. I think they prepared 12 Brigades for this offensive — two brigades is bigger than most people’s armies, right? 12 effectively armored brigades prepared for this counteroffensive, mainly out of gifted equipment and donations,” he said.
Wallace also said a big specific challenge they see with Ukraine is its ability to shut down runways being used by Russian planes. The long-range Storm Shadow missile that the UK has provided “is a deep-strike weapon, but it is not designed to destroy runways,” he said, so the UK is trying to find ways to help Ukrainian troops improve that capability.
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Zelensky thanks Americans for US support packages to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a G7 declaration of joint support for Ukraine on July 12, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Paul Ellis/Pool/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US President Joe Biden and Americans for standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine through Russia’s war on the country.
Speaking ahead of their meeting at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Zelensky acknowledged that the aid the US has sent to Ukraine so far is a large amount of money.
“You have to know that you spent this money for — not just for fighting. You spent this money for our lives, and I think that we saved the lives for Europe and for all the world,” he said.
Zelensky also thanked Biden for sending cluster munitions among other weapons, saying it was a “difficult political decision,” but it will help save Ukraine.
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Biden: "I look forward to the day" Ukraine joins NATO
US President Joe Biden speaks during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their bilateral meeting that he looks forward to the day Ukraine officially joins NATO.
“You’ve done an enormous job, you have a lot more to do. And I just think that, you know, we’re going to make sure that you get what you need. And I look forward to the day when we’re having the meeting to celebrate your official, official membership in NATO,” Biden said Wednesday.
“The bad news for you is we’re not going anywhere. You’re stuck with us. We’re not going anywhere,” he added.
Remember: Biden, who is meeting with Zelensky for face-to-face talks Wednesday, acknowledged the alliance did not invite Ukraine to join NATO membership during the summit. While Zelensky praised discussions, he has also expressed frustrations that no timetable has been put forward on Ukraine joining NATO.
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Romania to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s as soon as next month
From CNN's Tim Lister
Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft take part in a NATO exercise on July 4.
John Thys/AFP/Getty Images
Romania will begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 combat aircraft, possibly beginning as soon as next month, according to a source familiar with the ongoing discussions.
An airbase in Romania has been designated for the training.
Romania currently has 16 F-16s, with another 32 expected to arrive from Norway by the end of 2024.
The source said preparations include a Romanian request for an F-16 flight simulator from the plane’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
Romania has about ten qualified Romanian instructors who have completed more than 2,000 hours flying the plane. Three or four of Romania’s current squadron of F-16s could be used at any one time on the training mission, the source added.
The duration of the training program is to be decided, but Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Tuesday he hoped there would be results within six months.
Radu Tudor, defense analyst with CNN affiliate Antena 3 in Bucharest, said: “There have been intense negotiations for two months on the training program. The Romanian Air Force and other allied countries will provide trainers for both NATO pilots and in the near future for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 training program.”
On Tuesday at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Reznikov signed a memorandum outlining the training terms for combat aircraft with 11 coalition members: Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
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Biden: The US is doing "everything we can" to support Ukraine
US President Joe Biden speaks during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden addressed the frustration that has been expressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukraine’s needs during Russia’s war, and said, “the United States is doing everything we can.”
Some background: Biden and G7 leaders unveiled a substantial show of support for Ukraine Wednesday at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, offering a joint declaration of support for Ukraine aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability.
The security guarantees from leading nations and assurances that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO on Wednesday appeared to calm brewing worries that Ukrainian frustrations at not being admitted to the alliance would overshadow one of the most significant meetings of the alliance in recent memory.
Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday and had issued a blistering statement expressing his frustration at not receiving more specific details on when and how Ukraine would join the alliance.
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Biden: G7 joint declaration will ensure support for Ukraine will last "long into the future"
US President Joe Biden speaks alongside G7 leaders, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce a Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.
Kacper Pempel/Reuters
US President Joe Biden said members of the Group of 7 are launching a joint declaration “to make it clear that our support will last long into the future.”
In remarks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Japanese President Fumio Kishida at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Biden said “we’re not waiting” for the NATO accession process to play out before guaranteeing long-term security commitments to Ukraine.
The US president promised to help Ukraine “for as long as that takes.”
The joint declaration by G7 leaders is displayed before the announcement on Wednesday.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
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Zelenksy: NATO summit was a "meaningful success" for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at an event with G7 leaders on Wednesday.
Paul Ellis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that the outcome of the NATO summit in Vilnius was “much-needed,” calling the summit a “meaningful success for Ukraine.”
He thanked the NATO leaders for their “practical and unprecedented support” and said that the Ukrainian delegation was going to return home with security guarantees.
“Today there are security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO, an important package of security guarantees. Today we are coordinating with G7 countries. The framework for security guarantees that shall be further extended through arrangements with our key partners — bilateral and multilateral, agreements.” he said. “The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home a significant victory for Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children. It opens for us absolutely new security opportunities.”
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Zelensky appeals for security guarantees "on our way to NATO membership"
From CNN's Tim Lister
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.
Paul Ellis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is “on the way to NATO membership,” and that in the process, it “needs effective security guarantees.”
“While we are on our way to NATO membership, Ukraine needs effective security guarantees on the way to the Alliance. We now have an appropriate package of guarantees, and I ask you to support and join it,” the president said in a series of tweets.
Zelensky also referred to the conditions that Ukraine must meet to accede to NATO. Some Ukrainian officials have described these as vague or unclear.
Earlier Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the joining the alliance was always conditions-based and mentioned interoperability of forces.
Earlier Wednesday, Zelensky criticized the alliance, saying it was “absurd” that a timeline had not been set for Ukaine’s invitation and membership to NATO.
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Biden "will be straightforward" and listen intently to Zelensky, US national security adviser says
From CNN’s Betsy Klein in Vilnius, Lithuania
US President Joe Biden and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Getty Images/picture alliance
While US President Joe Biden “will be straightforward” in his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit in Lithuania, he plans to listen “carefully” after Ukraine’s leader has expressed frustration with his country’s NATO membership status, according to a White House aide.
In an appearance on “CNN This Morning,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan pointed to the reasons Ukraine will not be offered membership during this NATO summit, including the fact that the alliance would be at war with Russia if Ukraine were to join now, as well as additional needed reform.
Sullivan continued: “President Zelensky obviously had a different view of that. But President Biden will be straightforward today with him as he has been in every phone conversation and meeting they’ve had, laying out his reasoning, laying out his thinking, and then listening carefully to what President Zelensky has to say.”
Pressed on what specific reforms Ukraine needs to make, Sullivan indicated the ball is in Ukraine’s court, via the Annual National Program process at NATO, but said that the alliance and Ukraine will “put a special emphasis on moving quickly in certain areas to improve the resilience of Ukraine’s democracy.”
Asked about a timeline for the war’s end, he said he understood Ukraine’s desire to be a NATO member “as fast as possible,” but said the situation is “dynamic.”
“NATO needs to be able to retain the flexibility – working closely with Ukraine on its pathway to make a determination about when, down the road, it makes sense to admit them,” he said.
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Top Russian general Surovikin, not seen since Wagner-led mutiny, is "not available"
From CNN's Anna Chernova
Russian military commander Gen. Sergey Surovikin is pictured in this handout photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on June 24.
Handout/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP
Russian military commander Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who has not been seen in public since the failed Wagner-led rebellion last month, is “resting” according to a Moscow lawmaker.
“He is resting for now. Not available,” Andrey Kartapolov, head of Russia’s State Duma Defense Committee, told the Telegram channel SHOT in a video posted on Wednesday.
Last month’s failed insurrection against Moscow, led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, marked the greatest threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s tenure since the Kremlin launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Documents shared exclusively with CNN in June indicated that Surovikin is a secret VIP member of the private military company, exposing further disunity among senior officials in Moscow.
Wagner did not respond to CNN’s request for comment at the time.
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NATO summit keeps focus on Ukraine as Russia's war continues. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, is focusing on Ukraine’s membership and its needs on the battleground, among other issues. Here’s what you need to know:
Ukraine joins the summit with priorities: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the second day of the summit told reporters he has “three priority questions” on the agenda Wednesday: a new weapons package, an invitation for NATO membership and “security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO.” He has already met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and he is set to meet US President Joe Biden later today.
Kyiv still looking for F-16 fighter jets: Ukraine is looking to deploy F-16 fighter jets by March 2024, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview published on Wednesday. So far, no government has committed to providing Ukraine with the US-made aircraft, but in May, CNN reported that the US changed its stance over supplying F-16s to Ukraine, telling allies it would allow exports of the fighter jets. Ukraine has argued the jets are essential to fight off Russian air attacks.
Details remain vague on Ukraine’s path to NATO membership: The National Security Council’s senior director for Europe, Amanda Sloat, on Wednesday offered vague details about the reforms the US says are necessary for Ukraine to join NATO — a day after the alliance issued a joint communiqué lacking a specific pathway or timeline for the war-torn country’s eventual membership. While the US recognizes that Ukraine has already made significant progress on reforms, it still has a ways to go, but the US believes it can get there, Sloat told reporters.
More aid to Ukraine expected from G7 and NATO members: Sloat also told reporters Wednesday that announcements can be expected on new aid packages from NATO members and also from G7 members. Moscow on Wednesday cautioned against international leaders ramping up security pledges to Ukraine, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warning that “providing security guarantees to Ukraine” would “encroach upon the security of the Russian Federation” and could lead to “extremely negative consequences” in the medium- and long-term.
Germany will give additional weapons to Ukraine: Germany will send Ukraine additional launchers and missiles for Patriot missile defense systems, Zelensky said Wednesday. On Tuesday, Germany announced weapons and military aid worth €700 million ($769.9 million), the country’s defense ministry said in a statement.
US official’s tense public exchange with a Ukrainian activist: Ukrainian activist Daria Kaleniuk askedUS national security adviser Jake Sullivan if Biden isn’t inviting Ukraine to NATO “because he’s afraid of Russia” and if she should prepare her son “to be a soldier and fight Russians when he will be 18.” She also pressed Sullivan on what reforms need to be made by Ukraine. Sullivan pointed Kaleniuk to the “enormous amount” of aid US has provided to help Ukraine and said the “American people deserve a degree of gratitude” for their support of Ukraine. “Some of what you said in your remarks about motives, I think, was entirely unfounded and unjustified,” Sullivan added.
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Stoltenberg applauds "truly historic moment" at first NATO-Ukraine Council meeting
From CNN's Betsy Klein in Vilnius, Lithuania
From left: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Joe Biden, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
Kay Nietfeld/picture alliance/Getty Images
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg heralded the historic first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which has just been elevated from its commission status in a signal of support to the war-torn country.
“This is a truly historic moment: allies and Ukraine sitting side by side as equals to address our common vision of Euro-Atlantic security,” Stoltenberg said, welcoming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the meeting and praising the courage of Ukrainians.
As the alliance has sought to send signals of support to Ukraine despite not offering a specific path to membership at this summit, Stoltenberg offered assurances of support and affirmed Ukraine will become a member at a later date.
“We need to keep up and further expand our support to help Ukraine liberate its land and deter future Russian aggression,” he said.
US President Joe Biden was spotted shaking hands with Zelensky moments before the council got underway. The two leaders are scheduled to have a one-on-one meeting later today.
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Kremlin says Putin visit to China is on the agenda
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to visit China for high-level talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.
The exact dates are yet to be finalized, Peskov said.
According to Peskov, trade and economic cooperation as well as global issues would be up for discussion.
Peskov stressed the potential for “constructive interaction” between Russia and China, based on their “shared vision of international relations.”
Some background: China has refused to condemn Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine or call for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine’s territory.
Xi last met with Putin during a state visit at the Kremlin in March, and the two leaders touted the close ties and strategic visions shared by their countries.
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Zelensky praises NATO summit talks but says membership invite would have been "optimum"
From CNN's Alex Hardie
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with the NATO Secretary General on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his discussions with allies at the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius have been “good,” but emphasized his ultimate goal of accession for Ukraine.
“We can state that the results of the summit are good, but should we receive an invitation they would be the optimum,” Zelensky said.
“We highly appreciate the recognition that Ukraine will not need a membership application plan on its way to NATO.
“I would like to have success at this summit for everyone – for our soldiers, for our citizens, for our children, for everyone,” he added.
NATO has eased the pathway for Ukraine to join NATO but not offered a specific time frame.
Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership has dominated talks at the conference in Vilnius this week, where G7 leaders are expected to pledge further military aid for Kyiv.
“Today those guarantees could be confirmed by the G7 countries,” Zelensky said, adding “this will surely become a very important and specific success.”
Asked about the US decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, Zelensky thanked US President Joe Biden.
“I know it was a challenge in the United States, it was a challenge in the US congress and there are people who are not sharing the support with regards to the cluster munitions. But I want us to take a look at this from a different perspective, from a perspective of fairness.
The Ukrainian President also added that Kyiv needs “long-range weapons” and said he will raise “this issue.”
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NATO head says Putin victory is "biggest risk" of war in Ukraine
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a joint press conference with the Ukrainian President on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images
Some more now from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Stoltenberg said “the biggest risk” would be if Russian President Vladimir Putin won the war in Ukraine, in strong remarks highlighting the threat of the conflict to Europe’s security landscape.
“There is a full-fledged war going on in Europe and there is no risk free option for NATO allies, but the biggest risk is if President Putin wins,” Stoltenberg said on the second day of the NATO summit in Vilnius in Lithuania.
“That’s exactly why it’s important for NATO allies to support Ukraine,” he added.
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US official's tense exchange with Ukrainian activist could offer preview of how Biden responds to Zelensky
From CNN's Betsy Klein
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told a Ukrainian activist at a NATO public forum Wednesday that the “American people deserve a degree of gratitude” for their support of Ukraine after the activist lambasted the decision not to immediately invite Ukraine to the alliance.
The tense exchange echoed frustrations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, perhaps offering a preview of how US President Joe Biden will respond to Ukraine’s leader later Wednesday as the two leaders are set to meet.
During the question-and-answer portion of the event, Daria Kaleniuk, the director of Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine, pressed Sullivan on what reforms need to be made as she railed against the lack of invitation to join the alliance.
Sullivan thanked her for her efforts to advance Ukraine’s democracy and heralded Ukrainian citizens standing up to Russia’s aggression. He went on to point to an “enormous amount of capacity” provided by the US to help Ukraine fight the invasion, plus continued solidarity from the US and other partners.
“President Biden was clear and straightforward in his public comments about his perspective on the question of Ukraine and NATO, and some of what you said in your remarks about motives, I think, was entirely unfounded and unjustified,” Sullivan told Kaleniuk.
He echoed comments from Biden that a Ukraine accession to NATO right now would mean NATO would be at war with Russia, and he pointed to continued reforms Ukraine needs to make.
Sullivan went on to call for gratitude.
“The American people have sought – in watching and wanting to stand in solidarity with the brave and courageous people of Ukraine – to step up and deliver. And I think the American people do deserve a degree of gratitude — from us, from the United States, from our government, deserve gratitude for their willingness to step up and from the rest of the world, as well, as do every ally and partner that’s supporting it,” he said.
Sullivan concluded by saying that the people of Ukraine “are the ones really carrying the burden of this, and we have to do what we can to support them. And we will do that, and I will personally do that every single day.”
Kremlin warns against providing security guarantees to Ukraine
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Moscow on Wednesday cautioned against international leaders ramping up security pledges to Ukraine, as G7 leaders are expected to announce a substantial aid package for Kyiv.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that “providing security guarantees to Ukraine” would “encroach upon the security of the Russian Federation.”
According to Peskov, such actions could lead to “extremely negative consequences” in the medium and long term, exacerbating Europe’s security landscape.
“We hope that wisdom will be demonstrated because otherwise, by making such decisions, these countries are actually making Europe much more dangerous for many years to come.”
US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders are set to make a major announcement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about boosting Kyiv’s military capabilities at the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.
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Head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service spoke to CIA director in June, Russia media reports
From CNN's Anna Chernova
Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s foreign intelligence agency, is pictured during a military parade in Moscow, Russia, in May 2021.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, held a phone call with CIA Director William Burns at the end of June, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday.
Naryshkin said, according to TASS, that the call lasted “about an hour” and the pair “reflected and reasoned about what to do with Ukraine.”
The Russian intelligence chief reportedly said the potential for a personal meeting with Burns “exists.”
“Both phone conversations and the possibility of a personal meeting remain,” he said, according to TASS.
CNN previously reported that Burns spoke to his Russian counterpart following the Wagner insurrection, according to a US official. After the failed mutiny by Prigozhin, Burns reached out to Naryshkin to reiterate that the US had nothing to do with it.
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NATO chief says Ukraine is closer to alliance than ever before
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood in London
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Ukraine is “closer to NATO than ever” before in a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Allies really affirm that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance and agreed to remove the requirement for a Membership Action Plan,” he said on the second day of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Membership Action Plan is a program of economic, defense and security reforms that other recently admitted countries had to go through before joining NATO. The process can be a burdensome and lengthy, and its removal could significantly streamline Ukraine’s membership bid once it is formally invited to apply.
He reiterated statements he made on Tuesday, saying that “this will change Ukraine’s membership off from a two-step process to a one-step process, and we will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when allies agree that conditions are met.”
Stoltenberg also said during the news conference that he looks forward to seeing Zelensky again as “allies.”
Stoltenberg said that when the war ends, the alliance group must make sure that there are “credible arrangements in place for Ukraine’s security so history does not repeat itself.”
“I therefore welcome that many allies will today commit to providing long-term security assistance to Ukraine,” he said.
Despite the warm comments Ukraine has not been given a firm timeline for when it might become an official member.
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Ukraine hopes to deploy F-16 fighter jets by March 2024, foreign minister says
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych and Sarah Dean
Ukraine is looking to deploy F-16 fighter jets by March 2024, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview published on Wednesday.
So far, no government has committed to providing Ukraine with the US-made aircraft.
The interview with Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty), recorded on Tuesday, comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in which the two nations “agreed to start training pilots in August.”
“We are getting closer to a decision on modern aviation for Ukraine,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
When asked Tuesday if he could publicly announce when training will start and when Ukraine may expect to receive F-16s, Kuleba told Radio Svoboda: “I think it’s just a very complicated technical issue. The training should start sometime in August, maybe in early September.”
But he noted that there needs to be trainings for engineers and technicians, plus the preparation of infrastructure.
More background: In May, CNN reported that the US changed its stance over supplying F-16s to Ukraine, telling allies it would allow exports of the fighter jets.
A handful of European countries have a supply of the US-made F-16s, including the Netherlands, which has signalled a willingness to export some of them to Ukraine. But the US would have to approve that third party transfer because of the jets’ sensitive US technology.
Ukraine has argued F-16s are essential to fight off Russian air attacks.
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Germany pledges Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych
Germany is to send Ukraine additional launchers and missiles for Patriot missile defense systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday.
“We continued the conversation on security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO with Chancellor Scholz. Thank you for your support,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
“There is an agreement on additional Patriot launchers and missiles for them from Germany. This is very important to protect life in Ukraine from Russian terror.
“I am grateful for Germany’s readiness for long-term, multi-year support of Ukraine and our defense of freedom. Long-term support programs are the best signal to everyone in the world that our Europe will remain a space of security and peace.”
On Tuesday, Germany announced weapons and military aid worth €700 million ($769.9 million), the country’s defense ministry said in a statement.
Some context: Allies of Kyiv have previously sent Patriots to Kyiv, increasing Ukraine’s capacity for long-range air defense.
The Patriot has a powerful radar to detect incoming targets at long range, making it capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and more.
The war in Ukraine shifted Europe’s security landscape, prompting NATO member countries including Germany to rethink its approach to national security strategy and modernize its military capacity.
CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann and Jim Sciutto contributed reporting.
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Zelensky expects "good news" from meeting with German Chancellor Scholz
From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet at the NATO summit on July 12, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects “good news” from his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the NATO summit in Vilnius Wednesday.
In a tweet, Zelensky said the meeting between the pair had started.
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Zelensky and Trudeau discuss pathway to NATO
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s about NATO accession for Ukraine, on day two of the key summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
Zelensky said on Wednesday he had received “Canada’s understanding” regarding security guarantees for Ukraine’s membership bid.
“We are discussing security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO — we have Canada’s understanding, the world’s understanding will follow, and we are preparing an important security victory for Ukraine,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
“I am grateful to Justin and Canada for reinforcing our soldiers with armored vehicles. There are powerful agreements.”
Some context: While NATO agreed to remove one requirement for Ukrainian entrance to the bloc it did not provide a firm timeline for when the Ukraine would become a full member.
That has frustrated Zelensky, who arrived at the summit Tuesday calling it “unprecedented and absurd” no time frame had been set.
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Zelensky arrives for second day of NATO summit
From CNN’s Alex Hardie
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives on the second day of the annual NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12.
Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived for the second day of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Speaking to reporters, Zelensky said he has “three priority questions” on the agenda Wednesday.
He outlined those as a new weapons packages, an invitation for NATO membership and “security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO.”
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, said on Telegram that Kyiv will “talk about defense, security, weapons, and President Zelensky’s Peace Formula,” during day two of the summit.
On Wednesday, Ukraine will take part in the first inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council and hold bilateral meetings, Yermak said.
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US official gives few details on reforms needed for Ukraine to join NATO
From CNN’s Betsy Klein in Vilnius, Lithuania
A US official on Wednesday offered vague details about the reforms the United States says are necessary for Ukraine to join NATO a day after the alliance issued a joint communiqué lacking a specific pathway or timeline for the war-torn country’s eventual membership.
Sloat described the communiqué as a “strong, positive message reaffirming that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance,” noting that the Membership Action Plan (MAP) was no longer required for Ukraine to join.
But, she said, there are a “series of governance and security sector reforms” that Washington is working on with Kyiv and with NATO more broadly, pointing to the “annual national program” document drafted by Ukraine and reviewed by allies’ foreign ministers each year.
Pressed again for any specific example of the reforms the alliance is looking for, she said the US is taking its lead from Ukraine.
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Ukraine to receive "substantial" new aid package, US official says at NATO Summit
From CNN’s Betsy Klein in Vilnius, Lithuania
US President Joe Biden attends the 2023 NATO Summit on July 11, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden and NATO leaders have “unanimously agreed” to send a “substantial” new aid package to Ukraine, National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters Wednesday — but she declined to provide additional details.
The alliance will also hold the inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, before Biden meets with Zelensky, with “near and long-term support for Ukraine” on the agenda, Sloat said.
Later Wednesday, Biden will give a major address on foreign policy, reflecting on the strength and power of the NATO alliance, Sloat added.
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Biden and G7 leaders set to announce new boost for Ukraine's military capabilities
From CNN’s Betsy Klein in Vilnius, Lithuania
US President Joe Biden (L) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg attend the opening high-level session of the 2023 NATO Summit on July 11, in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders are set to make a “major announcement” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania, about boosting Ukraine’s military capabilities, offering additional assistance to the war-torn country as its leader expresses frustration with path to NATO membership.
The announcement will start a process of bilateral negotiations with Ukraine, Sloat said.
There will be a “long-term investment in Ukraine’s future force” aimed at “ensuring Ukraine has a sustainable fighting force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future, a strong and stable economy, and the help Ukraine needs to advance the reform agenda to support the good governance necessary to advance Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” she said.
Sloat added the purpose of the declaration would be twofold: bolstering Ukraine’s deterrence, and sending a message to Russia.
She said the announcement will be made at “an event with the G7 leaders and President Zelensky” following the end of the NATO Summit, with more information to come.
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Russian drones target Ukraine, Ukrainian Air Force says
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 11 of 15 Iran-made Shahed attack drones launched by Russia early Wednesday, Ukraine’s Air Force said on Telegram.
In the central Cherkasy region, two people suffered burns and non-residential infrastructure was damaged following Russian drone attacks, a local military official said.
It’s unclear whether the reports are related.
Earlier Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said air defenses repelled Russian airstrikes on the Kyiv region for a second consecutive night.
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Zelensky's frustration over lack of NATO timeline looms over final day of summit
From CNN's Betsy Klein in Vilnius, Lithuania
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a prayer for Peace in Ukraine on Freedom Square on July 8, in Lviv, Ukraine.
Stanislav Ivanov/Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images
President Joe Biden enters day two of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, facing questions about Ukraine’s path to becoming a member of the alliance, with concerns from his Ukrainian counterpart on full display and fissures among NATO leaders on the thorny issue.
Ukraine has been a dominant item on the summit’s agenda as the US president looks to keep the group united behind President Volodymyr Zelensky in the face of Russia’s invasion. While the final communique from the summit does remove one barrier to entry, the Ukrainian president will likely be left looking for more signs of assurances from the allied nations.
While US officials have emphatically said Ukraine will not be joining NATO as a member coming out of this meeting, there are few concrete steps or timelines the group has offered as a significant show of support for the war-torn nation.
Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday and will participate in the summit and meet one-on-one with Biden, his attendance a sign of unity that threatens to be overshadowed by a blistering statement he issued while he was on his way to the gathering.
The Ukrainian president said he has “received signals that certain wording is being discussed without Ukraine,” emphasizing that the “wording is about the invitation to become NATO member, not about Ukraine’s membership.”
The final communiqué, released Tuesday, is unlikely to provide Zelensky the answers he demands.
While the allies did agree to remove one requirement for Ukrainian entrance to the group — a Membership Action Plan — given Kyiv’s close relationship with NATO nations, it did not provide a firm timeline for when the Ukrainians will become official members.
NATO reaffirms support for Ukraine's push for membership. Here's what's to know from the summit in Lithuania
From CNN staff
President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the crowd at Lukiskiu Square in Vilnius on July 11.
Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images
NATO allies on Tuesday reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s push for membership of the alliance, according to a final declaration issued by the 31-member group at a summit in Lithuania.
“Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” it said. “We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met.”
NATO allies also reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s war and its “blatant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and OSCE commitments and principles.”
Here are the latest developments from the summit:
Rock star welcome: Speaking before thousands on a stage decked out with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag — beneath a huge sign reading “#UkraineNATO33” — President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was attending the summit to seek “total assurance” from NATO members of the decision that Ukraine “deserves,” referring to membership of the alliance. “NATO will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make NATO stronger,” he said. After the speech, a Ukrainian flag sent from the front lines of the war was raised in the Lithuanian capital.
Streamlined path: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance has changed the requirements needed for Ukraine to join the group. Stoltenberg said allied countries “agreed to remove the requirements for membership action,” which will change Ukraine’s membership path from a “two-step process to a one-step process.”
Sweden next: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Tuesday he was “very happy” with Turkey’s green light to Sweden’s NATO membership. On Monday, Stoltenberg said Turkey agreed to back Sweden’s bid to join the military alliance. Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had suggested Sweden could only join after his country was accepted into the European Union.
Broader concerns: The Western allies expressed “serious concern” over Iran’s “malicious activities” and urged Tehran to stop supplying drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine. In its communiqué, NATO said, “Iran’s support to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine” is impacting Euro-Atlantic security. NATO also called on China to abstain from supporting the Russian war effort.
Cluster bombs: Allies know why the United States is providing controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. “Every ally I’ve talked to has said they understand why we’re doing this, when we’re doing it,” Blinken told NBC. Some key US allies, including the UK, France and Germany, are signatories to a ban on cluster munitions.
Turkey talks: US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Erdogan met Tuesday and “discussed efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation,” the White House said in a readout of the meeting. Biden is expected to meet Zelensky in Vilnius on Wednesday.
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Ukrainian air defense repels attack in Kyiv region for second night in a row, military says
From CNN’s Mariya Knight
Russia launched airstrikes toward the Kyiv region for the second night in a row during the early hours of Wednesday (local time), but Ukraine’s air defense systems engaged in repelling the attack, according to the Kyiv regional military administration.
The strikes come following an overnight attack on Monday in which drones launched by Russia were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense.
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"Ukraine's future is in NATO," alliance members reaffirm in joint declaration at summit
From CNN's Sugam Pokharel and Lauren Kent in London
Participants of the NATO Summit pose for a photo in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday.
Odd Anderson/AFP/Getty Images
NATO allies on Tuesday reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s push for membership of the alliance, according to a final declaration issued by the 31-member group at a summit in Lithuania.
NATO allies also reiterated their condemnation “in the strongest terms (of) Russia’s blatant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and OSCE commitments and principles.”
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US ambassador to NATO says it is tough to agree on timeline for Ukraine's accession
From CNN's Amanpour team and Bianna Golodryga
Julianne Smith, US Ambassador to NATO, told CNN that it is “very tough” to agree on a timeline for Ukraine’s accession to the alliance while the country is still at war.
“Even the Ukrainians themselves will tell you that they need to make further reforms. They’ve made good progress on a variety of democratic and security sector reforms, but they’ll have to continue working in that direction,” Smith said Tuesday.
Smith reiterated that Ukraine has already taken positive steps, which led to NATO agreeing to streamline the accession process by removing a key hurdle for Ukraine — the requirement for a Membership Action Plan.
When asked about whether Ukraine’s position and the lack of a timeline gives Russia an incentive to continue fighting, Smith emphasized that allies have already committed to Ukraine’s future in NATO, as well as to giving the country long-term support.
Smith also said the United States is “thrilled” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in attendance for the summit and for the first NATO Ukraine Council, adding, “I think this sends a very strong signal to President Putin.”
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Ukrainian military says forces are making progress in the south
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva
The Ukrainian military said it is making progress on the southern front and has “conducted both offensive and effective defense operations.”
Valerii Shershen, a spokesperson for the forces in the south, said the Russians had been forced to “pull up reserves as a result of the onslaught by our strike units.”
CNN cannot verify the Ukrainian claims of battlefield gains.
Ukrainian officials have made it clear that minimizing losses is their priority as they try to break down complex Russian defenses developed over months.
In the east, Russian attacks continue around Marinka and Avdiivka, Shershen said. “We are fighting back and holding our ground. Over the last day, 18 combat engagements took place here, most of them in the area of Marinka.”
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US secretary of state: "I don't think we've seen the last chapter" yet in the Putin-Prigozhin drama
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
MSNBC
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that he doesn’t believe “we’ve seen the last of” the developments related to Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the last chapter in this drama,” Blinken said in an interview with NBC.
The top US diplomat reiterated that the revolt was an internal Russian matter, but called it a “truly extraordinary thing.”
“We’re at a place 16 months ago where Russia was on the doorsteps of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. And now, just a couple of weeks ago, mercenaries of Putin’s own making were on the doorsteps of Moscow,” he said.
Some context: Putin met Prizgozhin days after his short-lived mutiny last month, the Kremlin claimed Monday, clearing up some confusion over the Wagner chief’s whereabouts but adding to the mystery over what was the greatest threat to Putin’s rule yet.
