As many as 200 Russian soldiers and their commandant were killed in a recent strike on a military base near the front lines in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, a Ukrainian official claimed Thursday.
US President Joe Biden wrapped up a trip to Europe by asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “already lost” the war. Separately, the US military confirmed that American cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine.
Putin said Moscow may quit the Black Sea grain deal if its demands are not met, including access to international payment mechanisms. The UN-brokered agreement is due to expire Monday.
A senior Russian general said he was fired after accusing military leaders of betraying his troops by not providing sufficient support. Another general, who has not been seen since last month’s mutiny by the Wagner Group, is “resting for now,” according to a Russian politician. Read full analysis here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described for the first time what was discussed at a Kremlin event attended by 35 Wagner commanders, including the group’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The meeting was held on June 29, just days after Wagner fighters launched a short-lived mutiny against Moscow.
Putin, who was being interviewed by Russian newspaper Kommersant, was asked if Wagner would be retained as a fighting unit.
“There is no such legal entity,” Putin explained.
“The group exists, but legally it does not exist!” Putin repeated in the interview. “This is a separate issue related to actual legalization. But this is a question that should be discussed in the State Duma, in the government. It’s not an easy question.”
Putin said he offered the 35 Wagner commanders multiple employment options, including one under the leadership of their direct commander, who goes by the call sign Sedoy [Grey hair] – a man under whom Wagner fighters had fought for the past 16 months.
“They could have all gathered in one place and continued to serve,” Putin said, “and nothing would have changed for them. They would be led by the same person who has been their real commander all along.”
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Kyiv claimed battlefield successes in southern Ukraine. Here's what you need to know
Ukraine’s grinding counteroffensive continues along the southern and eastern front lines this week, with Kyiv claiming some progress Thursday in the country’s south.
It’s past midnight now in Ukraine. If you’re just checking in, here are some of the key developments from the war today:
Ukraine reports battlefield gains: Ukraine’s troops have taken back territory in the country’s south, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday, including three reclaimed villages outside the town of Orikhiv. Troops are also on the offensive around the cities of Melitopol and Berdiansk, Maliar said.
Major strike on southern base: Maliar’s report follows claims by another Ukrainian official Thursday that a recent strike killed as many as 200 Russian soldiers and the commandant of the occupied town of Tokmak.
Tokmak is located roughly in the center of the three cities referenced in Maliar’s report.
A pro-Russian social media outlet and a Russian-appointed official both spoke of explosions rocking the area, but CNN cannot independently verify Ukraine’s claim about the death toll or its recent battlefield gains.
Cluster munitions have arrived: American-supplied cluster munitions have been delivered to Ukraine, a military official said Thursday. US and Ukrainian officials have said that cluster munitions could prove vital to breaking through Russia’s stubborn defenses. But the weapons are also controversial for their potential risk to civilians.
The US official reiterated a vow that Ukraine will use the cluster munitions to defend and reclaim their own soil, and in a way that will pose less danger to civilians.
Another grain deal deadline looms: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia may quit the Black Sea grain deal if its demands are not met, again imperiling an agreement that it has put in doubt as previous deadlines approached. The deal is due to expire Monday.
It was fashioned by Turkey and the UN to allow Ukrainian wheat and other crops to be shipped to international markets through secure corridors. While global supplies are not as tight as they were last year, traders say prices would rise if the deal is not renewed.
Among other demands, Russia wants access to international payments mechanisms currently out of bounds to its banks due to sanctions.
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Biden authorizes Pentagon to send up to 3,000 reserve forces to Europe amid the war in Ukraine
From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky
The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, DC, on March 3, 2022.
Joshua Roberts/Reuters
US President Joe Biden authorized the Pentagon on Thursday to send up to 3,000 reserve forces to Europe as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues.
The US has more than 100,000 service members in Europe, a number that has grown since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
Under the new authorization, the reservists would be part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the ongoing rotational deployments that bolster NATO and its eastern flank. The newly signed executive order designates Operation Atlantic Resolve as a contingency operation, which gives reservists the same benefits as active-duty service members.
No US troops are directly involved in the war in Ukraine as Kyiv is not a member of the NATO alliance.
The move gives the Defense Department another option to send more capabilities to assist US European Command. But a defense official said it would likely take approximately six months to send these reservists to the theater because of the advance notice required.
The added troops would likely work in logistics and sustainment, or medical fields like dentistry and health care — roles that the reserves typically have more of than the active-duty force.
Since 2014, US forces have deployed to Europe under Atlantic Resolve to work with allies and partners in the region. Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder added that the new designation will enable the Defense Department to “provide better system support and sustain our forces.”
“(T)his includes things like increased contracting responsiveness, personnel-related entitlements that give activated reservists the same benefits as active component personnel,” he said. “It also, as a secretary-level operation, enhances our ability to track spending directly associated with this contingency.”
The executive order approving the mobilization of more forces gives officials the ability to call on troops “to come support Atlantic Resolve, and as I just highlighted, be entitled to the same kind of benefits as their active-duty counterparts.”
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Ukraine says its troops are consolidating gains in the south
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva
Ukraine’s troops have taken back territory in the country’s south, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday.
Kyiv’s forces have captured several settlements south of the town of Orikhiv, including the villages of Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka and Novopokrovka, according to the deputy defense minister.
CNN cannot independently verify battlefield reports from either side of the conflict.
Ukraine also remains on the offensive south of Orikhiv in areas surrounding the cities of Melitopol and Berdiansk, Maliar said.
In eastern Ukraine: Maliar said Ukrainian units are advancing south of the city of Bakhmut but are meeting strong Russian resistance.
Troops are also engaged in heavy fighting around the cities of Kupyansk, Lyman, Avdiivka and Marinka, she said.
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Ukraine says European institutions have pledged another $450 million for reconstruction
From CNN's Tim Lister
A worker sweeps outside an apartment building in Lviv on July 7, a day after it was partially destroyed by a missile strike.
Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP/Getty Images
The European Investment Bank and the European Union will provide another round of assistance worth about more than 400 million euros (about $450 million) to help the reconstruction of Ukraine, the country’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Thursday.
The commitment will go toward “the most urgent reconstruction projects for Ukrainians, including critical infrastructure,” Shmyhal wrote in a tweet.
The aid is targeted at critical infrastructure and “sustainable post-war reconstruction,” with a long-term goal of helping Ukraine “on its path toward European integration,” officials said.
The war’s staggering toll: The estimated cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine reached $411 billion after one year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to a joint assessment conducted in March by Ukraine’s government, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations.
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Pentagon confirms US cluster munitions have arrived in Ukraine
From CNN's Haley Britzky
American-supplied cluster munitions have been delivered to Ukraine, a military official said Thursday.
The acknowledgment confirmed reporting from CNN regarding the delivery of the weapons to Ukraine.
“There are cluster munitions in Ukraine at this time,” Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the Joint Staff director for operations, said during a news conference.
Key context: While US and Ukrainian officials have said cluster munitions could be a game-changer on the battlefield, helping break through Russia’s stubborn defenses in the Ukrainian counteroffensive, the weapons are also controversial.
More than 100 countries, including key US allies, have banned cluster munitions because of their potential threat to civilians. The bombs work by scattering smaller “bomblets” across a wide area. If any of the bomblets fail to explode, they can pose a long-term risk to anyone who encounters them, similar to landmines.
Sims said Ukraine does not have “any interest in using the cluster munitions anywhere near the civilian population, unlike the Russians.”
“Russians have employed these weapons against civilians in civilian communities, which is a significant difference from what the Ukrainians intend to do,” Sims said. “The Ukrainians intend to use cluster munitions in the tactical environment, against Russians, not against civilians.”
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Ukrainian official says up to 200 Russian soldiers killed in recent strike in south
From CNN's Tim Lister and Yulia Kesaieva
As many as 200 Russian soldiers and the commandant of the occupied town of Tokmak were killed in a recent strike on a Russian base, a Ukrainian official said.
“Our defense forces have successfully worked on the occupiers’ positions in Tokmak,” Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of the occupied southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, said on Telegram.
Fedorov is in Ukrainian-held territory and his claims cannot be confirmed, but he claimed that intelligence reports that a Russian base at a forging plant in the town had been hit
There is no way to confirm the claims and no visual evidence currently exists of an attack on the plant. However, a pro-Russian social media outlet said on Tuesday that the “AFU massively shell Tokmak. Preliminary, 6 strikes were recorded.”
A Russian-appointed official in occupied Zaporizhzhia, Vladimir Rogov, also spoke of a series of explosions in the town on the same day, posting a video of fires in an open area that could not be geolocated.
Ukrainian forces target Tokmak regularly as it is an important hub for Russian defenses.
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EU Commission chief urges Putin to extend Black Sea grain deal
From CNN's Duarte Mendonca
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at a news conference Thursday in Brussels.
Johanna Geron/Reuters
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to prolong a deal allowing the Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain — stressing that failure to do so would lead to global food insecurity.
Speaking at a news conference, von der Leyen said she looked forward to discussing the grain deal and other issues with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, including climate change and “upholding the UN charter and respect for the international law.”
What to know about the deal: The Black Sea grain deal, which was fashioned by Turkey and the UN, allows Ukrainian wheat and other crops to be shipped to international markets through secure corridors. While global supplies are not as tight as they were last year, traders say prices would rise if the deal is not renewed.
The current deal is set to expire next week.
There are alternative routes for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports by rail through Eastern Europe, but they can’t readily cope with the volume that Ukraine wants to export.
Romania has refurbished rail links and storage facilities but its main port is already clogged with waiting ships.
CNN’s Tim Lister and Uliana Pavlova contributed to this report.
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Putin says Russia may quit grain deal if demands are not met
From Tim Lister and Uliana Pavlova
Workers load grain at a grain port in Izmail, Ukraine, on April 26.
Andrew Kravchenko/AP/FILE
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia may quit the Black Sea grain deal if its demands are not met. The deal is due to expire Monday.
“As one of the options, let’s not start with the extension and then the fulfillment of promises, but first the fulfillment of promises and then our participation,” he said during an on-camera interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin.
“What I mean is, we can suspend our participation in this deal and if everyone once again says that all the promises made to us will be fulfilled, well, let them fulfill these promises and we will immediately join this deal again,” Putin added.
A key Russian demand has been to allow access to international payments mechanisms currently out of bounds to Russian banks as part of an international sanctions regime.
Extension proposals: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Putin this week outlining a proposal to keep the deal alive.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the objective of that proposal is to “remove hurdles affecting financial transactions through the Russian agricultural bank, a major concern expressed by the Russia Federation, and simultaneously allow for the continuing flow of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously rejected one formula that would create a subsidiary of one Russian bank that might then be allowed to connect with the international financial system.
What to know about the deal: The Black Sea grain deal, which was fashioned by Turkey and the UN, allows Ukrainian wheat and other crops to be shipped to international markets through secure corridors. While global supplies are not as tight as they were last year, traders say prices would rise if the deal is not renewed.
There are alternative routes for Ukrainian grain and oilseed exports by rail through Eastern Europe, but they can’t readily cope with the volume that Ukraine wants to export.
Romania has refurbished rail links and storage facilities but its main port is already clogged with waiting ships.
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Analysis: Russian generals — one dead, one fired and one "resting" — illustrate cracks in Moscow's military
Analysis from CNN's Tim Lister and Anna Chernova
Left to right: Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov, Gen. Oleg Surovikin and Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov
AP/Kremlin/Reuters
To lose one general during a war that’s going badly might be seen as unfortunate; to lose two within 24 hours looks careless. But that is what has happened to the Russian command in southern Ukraine – and both cases illustrate further deficiencies and dissent among Russia’s military leadership.
General 1:Early Tuesday, a Ukrainian missile slammed into a hotel in the coastal town of Berdyansk. One of many reported Russian casualties was Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of the Southern Military District and a key figure in Russia’s defense of occupied areas of southern Ukraine. He is thought to have been the most senior among the roughly 10 Russian generals killed in the campaign in Ukraine to date.
It appears to have been no secret that the 58th Combined Arms Army unit had made the Dune hotel its headquarters – but Tsokov had nevertheless moved in.
The 58th is a critical component in defending front lines in the west of the Zaporizhzhia region, where Ukrainian forces are attempting a breakthrough in their counteroffensive.
Then it got worse for the Russians.
General 2: Late Wednesday, a four-minute audio message emerged from Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, the 58th unit’s commander, in which he railed against what he called the treachery of Russia’s military leadership and inadequacies causing mass casualties among his men.
His message asserted major shortcomings in Russian defenses, which the Ukrainians are clearly trying to worsen with a recalibrated approach that stresses long-range fires against Russian rear positions.
Russian military bloggers have suggested that both Tsokov and Popov were capable soldiers who inspired loyalty among their men.
Losing commanders who inspire loyalty is not only careless. It’s potentially hazardous.
And it’s not as though the travails of the 58th are isolated examples. The Wagner mutiny at the end of June called into question the effectiveness and allegiance of several high-ranking figures, several of whom have not been seen since.
General 3: Gen. Oleg Surovikin, the head of Russia’s Aerospace Forces — who used to lead Russian forces in Ukraine — hasn’t been seen in public since the Wagner rebellion unfolded. Amid intense speculation about his status, the Head of the State Duma Committee on Defense Andrei Kartapolov said Wednesday that Surovikin was “resting” and not available – a curious place to be in the middle of a war that’s not going well.
Rising price of Russian oil presents first real test for key Western sanction
From CNN's Anna Cooban
The price of Russian crude oil has risen above a price cap set by the Group of Seven nations, in the first “real test” of whether the West can enforce one of its key sanctions against Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
The benchmark price of Russian Urals crude topped $60 a barrel Wednesday, according to data from Argus Media. The breach comes eight months after the G7 and the European Union introduced the cap, preventing Western firms from providing shipping, insurance and other services needed to export Russian seaborne oil unless it is priced below the threshold.
While the G7 and the EU have banned imports of Moscow’s seaborne crude, energy-guzzling nations China and India have ramped up imports of cheap Russian oil. Since most firms offering shipping services are based in Europe, the price cap was aimed at denting Russia’s revenues while still allowing its oil to flow to the global market.
With prices now rising, it is unclear to what extent Western authorities will be able to enforce the cap, Matthew Wright, a senior freight analyst at Kpler, told CNN.
It will be particularly difficult to monitor which Western companies are providing services such as insurance to ships that are owned by non-G7 countries and so aren’t constrained by the cap, Wright added.
That market is “not as transparent,” he said. “It’s going to be very difficult to police.”
Wright says buyers like India are unlikely to turn their backs on Russian oil, despite rising oil prices. Instead, Wright said, “we will see more vessels which are owned outside of the EU lift Russian crude.”
“There are more than enough vessels to keep Russian crude moving,” he added.
A spokesperson for the US Treasury told CNN “the price cap is working, and Russian (oil) revenue is down nearly 50% from a year prior.”
Biden says he doesn't see "any real prospect" Putin would use nuclear weapons
From CNN's Betsy Klein and Allie Malloy
US President Joe Biden speaks during a news conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki on Thursday.
Susan Walsh/AP
US President Joe Biden downplayed concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin could deploy nuclear weapons as he tries to reassert control after the Wagner private military group’s failed mutiny last month.
Some context: Russia has the world’s largest arsenal of nuclear weapons, with 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, including around 1,900 tactical nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
While US officials have expressed concern over Putin’s rhetoric surrounding the weapons, they have also repeatedly downplayed the risk of Russia using them. A spokesperson said in March that the US State Department has not found “any indications Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.”
Biden comments on Wagner boss: The US president also offered his thoughts on Wagner chief’s Yevgeny Prigozhin’s future following the coup. Prigozhin’s whereabouts are currently unknown, though the Kremlin said this week that he met with Putin shortly after the coup.
What comes next? “God only knows,” Biden said.
“We’re not even sure where he is, and what relationship he has. If I were he, I’d be careful what I eat, keep my eye on my menu,” Biden said. “But all kidding aside, who knows? I don’t know. I don’t think any of us know for certain what the future of Prighozin is in Russia.”
CNN’s Natasha Bertrand and Kylie Atwood contributed reporting to this post.
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Ukraine builds new fortifications along northern border
From Julia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Ukrainian is steadily sealing off and fortifying its northern border with Belarus and Russia, and encouraging civilians in some regions who still live close to the border to leave for safer places.
Ukraine continues to “create engineering barriers directly along the state border. We dig anti-tank ditches and mine the area,” said Lt. Gen. Serhii Naiev, Commander of the Joint Forces. “To prevent the invasion of enemy sabotage groups and crossing of the border by armored vehicles, we are installing appropriate minefields.”
The task, Naiev said, is to make that border area “impassable” since Ukraine has “no friends” on the other side of that border.
He said, in the last 10 days alone, the military had:
Installed 30 anti-tank minefields and barriers, using more than 5.8 thousand mines
Developed about 5,000 meters of trenches and 6,500 meters of anti-tank ditches
Created protected firing positions
Ukrainian authorities also continue to urge civilians to leave areas of Sumy that are regularly shelled from across the border: Flying drones and waterway activities are outlawed, and gatherings, entertainment and other mass events are banned in areas within 20 kilometers (or about 12 miles) of the border.
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Biden says he's "serious" about exploring prisoner exchange for US journalist detained in Russia
US President Joe Biden addresses a joint press conference with Finland's President after the US-Nordic leaders summit in Helsinki, Finland, on July 13.
Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden said he is “serious” about negotiations with Russia surrounding a prisoner exchange to free detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Last week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed there have been talks around the prospect of a prisoner swap for Gershkovich, “but those discussions have not produced a clear pathway to a resolution.”
Remember: Gershkovich’s arrest in March was the first detention of an American reporter in Russia on allegations of spying since the Cold War.
He is not the only US citizen recently held by Moscow, and the moves raise fears detainees could be used as pawns in the wider geopolitics surrounding the war in Ukraine.
The US State Department has officially designated Gershkovich as wrongfully detained in Russia.
CNN’s Donald Judd contributed reporting to this post.
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Biden: Putin has "already lost" the war in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden said he doesn’t think the war in Ukraine will drag on for years to come, declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “already lost.”
The US president said he doesn’t think the war will continue for years because Russia cannot maintain its resources for that long, and Putin will likely eventually “decide its not in interest for Russia, economically, politically or otherwise.”
He said he hopes Ukraine makes progress in its current counteroffensive to spur a negotiated settlement.
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Biden says the world faces "inflection point in history" after meeting Nordic leaders
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto hold a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, on July 13.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The US and its Western allies have reached an “inflection point in history,” US President Joe Biden said Thursday, speaking alongside Finland’s president after meeting with Nordic leaders.
“We also made it clear to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky that we’re not waiting for NATO membership to be finalized to commit to the long-term security of Ukraine,” the president said.
Biden praised Finland’s addition to NATO, and celebrated the news that Turkey has dropped its objections to Sweden’s accession. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed both the countries to pull the trigger on NATO membership.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the situation in his country, which borders Russia, remains calm in the wake of its successful membership bid, adding that the “Finnish people do feel more secure.”
At this week’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, NATO met “with 31 nations for the first time,” Biden said. “We showed the world that our alliance is more united than ever, and soon it’ll be 32 allies,” he continued, referring to Sweden.
CNN’s Niamh Kennedy contributed reporting to this post.
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Ukraine defense chief says NATO pledges add up to about $1.5 billion in military hardware
From CNN's Tim Lister
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has published a full list of the weapons and other military hardware pledged at this week’s NATO summit, saying it amounts to more than $1.5 billion worth of equipment.
Here’s what the list includes:
France: Long-range SCALP missiles and additional engineering equipment for de-mining
Germany: A roughly $782 million aid package includes 25 Leopard 1A5 tanks, 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, two Patriot air defense systems, Bergepanzer recovery vehicles and 20,000 155-mm artillery shells
Netherlands: Pilot training in August and help in strengthening Ukrainian air defense and artillery capabilities
Norway: 1,000 Black Hornet micro-drones, support packages for the NASAMS air defense systems already deployed, as well as increase the military aid budget for procurement of other systems from $240 to $930 million
The UK: More than 70 combat vehicles, thousands of rounds of ammunition for Challenger tanks and a $64.7 million package of military aid for the repair of equipment
Canada: $410 million in new funding and projects to support Ukraine
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Biden and Finnish counterpart discussed Ukraine and NATO unity during meeting
From CNN's Betsy Klein
President Joe Biden, left, meets with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto, right, at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, on July 13.
Susan Walsh/AP
US President Joe Biden and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto met Thursday ahead of the US-Nordic Leaders’ Summit, speaking about Ukraine, NATO unity, and other issues, according to the White House.
“The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to support Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. President Biden congratulated Finland on becoming our newest NATO Ally and welcomed its role as a regional security provider,” the readout said.
The leaders welcomed Turkey dropping its block on Sweden’s membership to NATO this week “and underscored their desire to welcome Sweden into NATO as soon as possible.”
Remember: Finland became NATO’s newest member in April, after it and neighboring Sweden sought to join the military alliance following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.
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Fired Russian general should continue to serve in the army, defense committee says
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, attends a press conference in Moscow, Russia, on June 14.
Dmitry Dukhanin/Kommersant/Sipa USA/AP
Major General Ivan Popov, the former commander of the 58th Army who was fired after he criticized the Russian military, is a “promising general” who “should serve in the army,” the head of the Russian Defense Committee said Thursday.
When questioned about Popov’s potential reassignment, Andrey Kartapolov, a former commander of the 58th Army, told journalists Thursday to wait for further developments.
Earlier, Kartapolov expressed confidence that the Russian Ministry of Defense would address the issues raised by Popov, saying effective leadership involves recognizing problems and listening to subordinates.
Analysts say that the public dismissal of such a senior officer during an open dispute over the conduct of the Russian campaign is unprecedented, adding to the significance of the situation.
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It’s mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here’s what you need to know.
From CNN staff
After two days of diplomacy, the NATO summit in Vilnius wrapped Wednesday evening. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may have left without his main wish – full NATO membership for his war-torn country – he secured a streamlined future path into the alliance and a swathe of other security measures from Western allies.
And, upon Zelensky’s return to Kyiv, a Ukrainian general confirmed to CNN that Ukraine has received cluster munitions from the United States, as his forces look to press on in their counteroffensive.
Here are the latest developments:
Cluster munitions arrive: Ukraine has received controversial cluster munitions from the US, General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi told CNN. “We just got them, we haven’t used them yet, but they can radically change” the situation on the battlefield, he said. Tarnavskyi said that Ukraine will not use the controversial munitions in civilian areas, amid concerns over the danger they can pose to non-combatants.
Kyiv airstrikes: Ukraine’s air defenses downed a barrage of weapons launched by Russia at Kyiv overnight, including two cruise missiles and 20 Iran-made drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said Thursday. Ukrainian officials said that one person died and two others were injured in the attack, which marked the third successive night of airstrikes on the capital.
Russian general fired: The Russian general in command of forces in occupied southern Ukraine says he was suddenly dismissed from his post after posting a voice note criticizing Moscow’s Defense Ministry of betraying his troops by providing inadequate support. General Ivan Popov – one of Russia’s most senior commanders – said Wednesday he expressed his concerns “at the highest level frankly and extremely harshly,” and was subsequently fired by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
And another one “resting”: With Popov fired, speculation is continuing to swirl around another Russian General – Sergey Surovikin, who has not been seen in public since last months’ aborted mutiny by the Wagner group. “He is resting now. Not available,” Andrey Kartapolov, head of Russia’s State Duma Defense Committee, said Wednesday. When CNN asked the Kremlin and Russian Ministry of Defense to comment on Surovikin’s whereabouts, neither provided clarity.
Ukraine’s NATO future: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told CNN he has “no doubt” Ukraine will join NATO once its war with Russia is over. “We heard just about every country in the room say as much,” Austin said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in Vilnius, Lithuania, after the two-day NATO summit. Austin stressed that there is “still work to be done” in bringing Ukraine’s equipment up to NATO standards, but that Ukraine would be supported in these efforts.
NATO summit takeaways: At last year’s NATO summit in Madrid, the alliance formally invited Sweden and Finland to join its ranks. At this year’s summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was hoping the alliance would extend his country the same favor. That was not to be. Instead, NATO confirmed that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO” – but did not say when that future could start. The alliance did, however, agree to significantly streamline Ukraine’s future bid, turning a two-step process into a one-step process. Read more here.
Here’s the latest map of control:
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Sweden to hasten deliveries of defense material to Ukraine
From CNN’s Sarah Dean in London
Sweden's Defense Minister Pal Jonson, second left, attends talks at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, on June 7.
David Mareuil/AP
Sweden said it will “simplify and speed up” deliveries of defense material to Ukraine.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson signed a protective security agreement with Ukraine at the NATO summit in Lithuania on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Swedish government Thursday.
“The agreement makes it possible for Sweden and Ukraine to exchange confidential information concerning, for example, test flights of JAS Gripen or military equipment,” it added.
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) is also entering into an agreement with Ukraine that will enable the embattled country to purchase defense material directly from the industry with shorter delivery times, the statement said.
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Ukrainian general confirms to CNN that Kyiv has received cluster munitions from the US
From CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Sebastian Shukla and Daria Tarasova in Dnipro
155mm Base Burn Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) rounds wait to be loaded at a U.S. Army motor pool at Camp Hovey, South Korea, on September 20, 2016.
2nd Lt. Gabriel Jenko/U.S. Army/Reuters
A Ukrainian general confirmed to CNN Thursday that Ukraine has received controversial cluster munitions from the US, after President Joe Biden said last week that he had taken the “difficult decision” to approve their transfer to Ukraine.
“The enemy also understands that with getting this ammunition, we will have an advantage. The enemy will give up that part of the terrain where it is possible to use this,” he said.
The arrival of the American clusters has not been previously reported.
Senior leadership will decide on the “areas of territory where it can be used,” Tarnavskyi said, noting that “this is a very powerful weapon.”
Tarnavskyi emphasized the restrictions on the use of clusters, saying their use is prohibited in heavily populated areas, even if occupied by Russian forces. The US has said they have written assurances from Ukraine that they will not be used in areas with civilians and that their use will be tracked for eventual de-mining operations.
The US said the decision to provide Ukraine with cluster munitions is due to Kyiv’s low supply of standard artillery rounds. The supply of clusters is “temporary,” according to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
“Once [production] hits a level where unitary round production can satisfy Ukraine’s needs, then there will be no need to continue giving cluster munitions,” he said Tuesday, declining to provide a timeline.
Why are cluster munitions controversial? Cluster munitions are canisters that carry tens to hundreds of smaller bomblets, which break open above an intended target, dispersing the bomblets over that area. They are fused by a timer to explode closer to or on the ground, spreading shrapnel that is designed to kill troops or take out armoured vehicles such as tanks.
The weapons have been banned by more than 100 nations, because the bomblets they disperse fall over a wide area, posing a risk to non-combatants. Russia has, however, used these munitions during its invasion of Ukraine.
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Public release of fired Russian general’s voice note a "political show," says Kremlin official
From CNN’s Anna Chernova
Major General Ivan Popov, who commanded Russia's 58th Combined Arms Army, is seen in this handout image released on June 9, 2023, by the Russian Defence Ministry.
In the note, General Ivan Popov accused the army leadership of betraying Russian troops by not providing sufficient support – and said he had since been fired for his comments.
Andrey Turchak, the First Deputy Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council and leader of the parliamentary working group on Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, said Thursday that Popov’s appeal was not intended for the public.
“The fact that ‘member of parliament’ [Andrey] Gurulev somehow received it and made a political show out of it, is on his conscience,” he added.
Gurulev, a member of the Russian parliament and a former Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District, relayed Popov’s audio message on his Telegram channel.
Turchak affirmed that General Popov maintains a “clear conscience,” and praised commanders like Popov, stating that the nation “can be proud of such commanders.”
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Aftermath of deadly drone strikes in Kyiv
This is the scene in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, which for the third night in a row came under attack from Russia air strikes.
Ukraine’s Air Force said it downed 20 Iran-made drones and two cruise missiles overnight into Thursday. At least one person was killed and two injured in the strikes.
A high-rise residential building damaged during a drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, said on July 13.
Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images
An inside view of the damaged residential building after the drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 13.
Oleksii Chumachenko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Criminologists investigate a fragment of a downed Shahed kamikaze drone that fell near a residential building in Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 13.
Russian general's dismissal comes with another "resting for now"
From CNN's Anna Chernova
Sergey Surovikin is seen here in an undated handout image from the Russian Defense Ministry released on June 24.
Russian Defense Ministry
The firing of Ivan Popov, the Russian general in command of forces in occupied southern Ukraine, comes amid speculation about the whereabouts of another general, Sergey Surovikin, who has not been seen in public since last month’s aborted mutiny by the private military group Wagner.
On Wednesday, Andrey Kartapolov, head of Russia’s State Duma Defense Committee, gave this update.
In the week after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his march on Moscow, the New York Times, citing US officials who said they were briefed on American intelligence, reported that Surovikin “had advance knowledge of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s plans to rebel against Russia’s military leadership.”
CNN asked the Kremlin and Russian Ministry Defense for comment on Surovikin’s whereabouts, in light of that reporting. Some observers think US officials have a motive for trying to discredit Surovikin.
The Kremlin said “no comment,” and its chief spokesperson Dmitri Peskov told CNN “I have nothing to add to what I have already said on this topic.”
Surovikin’s last public appearance was on Friday June 23, when Wagner’s mutiny began, issuing a video appeal to Prigozhin to cease his rebellion.
Surovikin, the former top Russian commander in Ukraine, was replaced in January by General Gerasimov – who was among the members of Russia’s top military brass lambasted by Prigozhin for making “mistakes” during the invasion of Ukraine.
Documents obtained by the Russian investigative Dossier Center, shared exclusively with CNN, suggest that Surovikin was a VIP member of Wagner.
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"No doubt" Ukraine will join NATO after war, US defense chief says
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood in London
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a meeting at the Pentagon on February 3, in Arlington, Virginia.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Thursday he has “no doubt” Ukraine will join NATO once its war with Russia is over.
“We heard just about every country in the room say as much,” Austin said in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer in Vilnius following the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital.
Austin said that there is “still work to be done” in bringing Ukraine’s equipment and training up to NATO standards.
While “we are doing this work now as they fight this war,” he said, “there is more that will need to be done to ensure that they have a full complement of capabilities.”
The full interview airs at 6 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN.
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Russian foreign minister claims Ukraine receiving F-16s would be a threat in "the nuclear sphere"
From CNN's Clare Sebastian, Sarah Dean and Brad Lendon
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a press conference in Moscow, Russia, on July 10.
Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images
Moscow would view any F-16 fighter jets supplied to Kyiv by NATO allies as a “threat by the West in the nuclear sphere,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with a pro-Kremlin Russian news site published Wednesday.
So far, no government has committed to providing Ukraine with the US-made aircraft. But Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday following a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte that the two nations had “agreed to start training pilots in August.”
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that it will take “months” before Ukraine will be capable of deploying F-16s, noting that besides the pilot training, maintenance capabilities must be put in place and airfields improved to accommodate the aircraft.
Some context: The F-16 is a multirole aircraft and can be configured to carry tactical nuclear weapons. The US, Belgian and Dutch air forces have F-16s with that mission, the latter two nations being tasked with carrying nuclear weapons from the US arsenal in Europe, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. But any F-16s that might possibly be transferred to Ukraine would not be nuclear capable, Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project with the Federation of American Scientists, told Business Insider last month.
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US defense chief defends decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine
From CNN’s Zahid Mahmood
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington D.C., on April 7, 2022.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday defended Washington’s controversial decision to support Ukraine with cluster munitions despite the risk to civilians.
Cluster munitions scatter “bomblets” across large areas that can fail to explode on impact and can pose a long-term risk to anyone who encounters them, similar to landmines. More than 100 countries have outlawed the weapons under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but the US, Ukraine and Russia are not signatories to the ban.
Both the Ukrainians and the Russians have used cluster bombs since Moscow’s forces invaded in February 2022.
The Ukrainians have committed to making sure these munitions are used only in the “appropriate places,” and not in populated areas, Austin said.
Asked by Blitzer how long the US would need to provide cluster bombs to Kyiv, Austin said he wants to make sure “Ukraine can remain successful in their fight,” so he would not “speculate how long that’s going to take.”
“We’re going stay focused on making sure that they have what they need to continue to provide the support for their maneuver,” Austin said.
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"Great things accomplished" at NATO summit, US defense chief says
From CNN’s Sarah Dean
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan look on during a bilateral meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11, 2023.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Sweden’s clearance to become NATO’s 32nd member was among “a lot of great things accomplished” at this week’s alliance summit in Lithuania, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday.
Putin “brought NATO closer to his doorstep” with his actions in Ukraine, Austin told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer when asked about how the Russian leader is reacting to the alliance’s expansion.
“Countries like Finland and Sweden bring a lot to the alliance so we are happy to have them on board,” he added, saying “they will bring value to the alliance right away.”
All NATO members must agree to let a new member join the alliance, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan dropped his opposition to Sweden’s bid, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.
Austin also told CNN there was “broad support” for member countries to commit 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending and for providing Ukraine with the investment it needs to defend itself.
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Ukraine's Air Force says it shot down Russian drones and missiles overnight
From CNN's Olga Voitovych
A view of an explosion of a drone in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 13, 2023.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Ukraine’s air defenses shot down a barrage of weapons launched by Russia overnight, including missiles and 20 Iran-made drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said Thursday.
In a statement on Telegram, the Air Force said attack drones fired by Russian forces were destroyed mostly in the Kyiv region. Russia also fired two cruise missiles from the Black Sea and one ballistic missile from Crimea, it said.
Earlier Thursday, Ukrainian officials said one person died and two others were injured in Kyiv after air defenses intercepted Russian drones, marking the third successive night of airstrikes on the capital.
Smoke rises in the sky over the city after a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 13, 2023.
Gleb Garanich/Reuters
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Russian navy ship docks in Cuba as tough times bring the old friends together
From CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Havana, Cuba
The Russian navy's training class ship Perekop is seen in Havana, Cuba on July 11, 2023.
Reynel Diaz/CNN
As a series of welcoming cannon blasts rang out from a nearby colonial fort, the Russian navy’s training class ship Perekop sailed into Havana on Tuesday.
While in Cuba for a four-day visit, the Perekop’s sailors will “carry out a wide range of activities,” according to Cuba’s state-run Prensa Latina news service, and members of the Cuban public will be given the opportunity to tour the ship.
It is the first official visit by a Russian naval vessel to Cuba in years — and another sign of the reforging of the relationship between the two Cold War-era allies after the collapse of the Soviet Union nearly brought down the Cuban economy with it.
While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to its widespread ostracization, the Cuban government increasingly has defended Moscow.
He also blasted US economic sanctions on Russia, while heralding Russian “projects of cooperation and collaboration” under development in Cuba.
Biden to discuss security cooperation with Nordic leaders in Finland
From CNN's Betsy Klein in Helsinki, Finland
US President Joe Biden waves upon arrival in Helsinki, Finland, on July 12, 2023.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
President Joe Biden is in Helsinki, Finland, for a summit with Nordic leaders Thursday, offering an opportunity for the countries to bolster security cooperation amid threats from Russia and China.
Biden will meet with the leaders of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark, marking the third such summit and the first of the Biden administration. It comes on the heels of a major win for Biden in Vilnius, Lithuania, after Turkey dropped its objections to Sweden’s accession to NATO earlier this week, but also provides the leaders a forum to discuss a range of other pressing issues.
The leaders come into the Thursday meeting with momentum after Finland joined NATO and Sweden is set to join the alliance, providing a boost and strong display of unity amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The historic announcement represented a stunning about-face from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who stood in the path of Sweden joining NATO for more than a year over a multitude of concerns.
The Biden administration led a full-court press in the days leading up to the Vilnius summit, capping months of behind-the-scenes diplomacy to get Turkey to move ahead with Sweden’s accession.
Among the other issues up for discussion: Arctic security. There is a presence from both China and Russia in the Arctic, an area that’s becoming more accessible due to climate change.
Amid more than 500 days of war in Ukraine, Russia has continued to expand its military bases in the Arctic region, satellite images obtained by CNN months ago showing continued progress fortifying and expanding radar bases and runways in the area.
A Russian general says he was fired after accusing the defense minister of treachery. Here's the latest
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 minister of betraying Russian soldiers by not providing sufficient support.
Gen. 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 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:
Kyiv attacks: One person was killed and two others were injured in the Ukrainian capital early Thursday after air defenses intercepted unmanned aerial vehicles, local officials said. It marks the third successive night of Russian airstrikes on the Kyiv region.
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 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.
General killed: 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 Berdyansk, 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.
Moscow’s take: 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 US’ decision to provide Ukraine with controversial cluster bombs. And UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said 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 2022 that the UK was not “Amazon” when he was given a list of weapons demands. Meanwhile, former UK 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
An interior view shows an apartment inside a residential building damaged during a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 13, 2023.
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
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.
It marks the third successive night of Russian airstrikes on the Kyiv region.
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"We have removed any doubts" that Ukraine will join NATO, Zelensky says
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva
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 joint declaration of support for Ukraine aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability.
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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Senior Russian general says he was fired after accusing defense minister of treachery
From CNN's Tim Lister and Uliana Pavlova
Senior Russian general, Ivan Popov, says he was dismissed after criticizing lack of support for troops.
Teoyaomiquu/Twitter
A senior Russian general in command of forces in occupied southern Ukraine says he was suddenly dismissed from his post after accusing Moscow’s Defense Ministry leadership of betraying his troops by not providing sufficient support.
Gen. Ivan Popov was the commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, which has been engaged in heavy fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region. He is one of the most senior officers to have taken part in the bloody Russian campaign in Ukraine.
Popov said he had 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,” in a voice note published on Telegram late Wednesday.
The recording was posted on the messaging app by Andrey Gurulev, a member of the Russian Parliament and former deputy commander of the Southern Military District.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu “signed the order and got rid of me,” the general also said in the recording, as he accused the top Kremlin official of treason.
The 58th Combined Arms Army has been headquartered in the occupied city of Berdyansk, and both Ukrainian and Russian sources have said its base there was hit by a missile attack early Tuesday that killed another Russian general.
Ukraine claims further progress around Bakhmut and in the south
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
Ukrainian servicemen fire a D-20 howitzer towards Russian troops at a position near the frontline town of Bakhmut, in Donetsk region, Ukraine on July 11, 2023.
Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters
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 Ukrainian 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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Analysis: Biden got almost everything he wanted from NATO summit
Analysis 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.
Poignantly, the meeting hosted by a former Soviet vassal state whose NATO status secured the freedom, independence and prosperity that Zelensky craves for his country, was overshadowed by the torment of the Ukrainian people.
Zelensky, who came into the summit as a guest boiling with frustration at the alliance’s unwillingness to give him a timeline for NATO membership, nevertheless contextualized what US and Western help means, in moving remarks to Biden.
What the summit achieved: 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. The move is a halfway house measure designed to tide Ukraine over until a future moment when it could join NATO and enjoy the “attack on one, is an attack on all” umbrella its members enjoy — a moment that the alliance has yet to determine.
Zelensky arrived at the summit blasting the bloc’s refusal to offer a timeline as “absurd.” But Biden insisted that granting membership now would mean NATO states having to go to war against Russia — a disastrous escalation he has been desperate to avoid.
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.
