NATO summit: Ukraine moving 'closer' to membership

The NATO leaders of 32 members states are continuing to conscionable successful Washington at the alliance's 75th day summit, with the ongoing warfare successful Ukraine the absorption of talks.

Day 1 saw US President Joe Biden accent the "sacred obligation" his state has successful presumption of supporting the confederation and pledge aerial defence systems for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked NATO for its "strong declaration" implicit aerial defense, thing helium has been repeatedly been calling for successful the look of expanding Russian rocket and drone strikes.

The 2024 acme is the past for outgoing Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, with erstwhile Dutch Prime Minister taking implicit successful October.

07/10/2024July 10, 2024

Ukraine's hold for jets similar a parent waiting 'after school' — Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been looking to get ample numbers of Western combatant jets arsenic the planes to fend disconnected Russia's penetration continues.

Speaking astatine the Ronald Reagan Foundation successful Washington, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs astatine slightest 128 warplanes.

He said Russia was capable to deploy 300 craft a time successful its continued attacks connected Ukraine.

"You know, we ever wait. Just similar my mum utilized to hold for maine aft schoolhouse and I ever recovered a crushed to travel later. It's the same, lone overmuch much serious," Zelenskyy was quoted arsenic saying by Ukrainian media.

The treatment is lone ever astir 10 oregon 20 aircraft, Zelenskyy said. "Even if determination are 50, that's nothing. They [the Russians] person 300," helium said. "Until we person 128 aircraft, we won't beryllium capable to vie with them successful the sky." He did not springiness immoderate further details connected this figure.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his state needs 128 warplanes to assistance fend of Russia's continued invasionImage: Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo/picture alliance

07/10/2024July 10, 2024

'Too aboriginal to say' erstwhile Ukraine volition go NATO member

NATO main Jens Stoltenberg said it was inactive excessively soon to accidental erstwhile Ukraine would go a subordinate of the alliance, but it was firmly connected the way toward that goal.

"To person a caller state we request consensus. All allies hold that Ukraine volition go a subordinate but its excessively aboriginal to accidental precisely erstwhile that volition happen," Stoltenberg told members of the media arsenic helium responded to questions.

"What I tin accidental is that we are moving unneurotic with Ukraine, person and person to NATO rank and we bash that by factual actions," the NATO secretary-general added.

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Which countries are NATO members?

NATO has 32 subordinate countries. 

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Day one's pledges of enactment for Ukraine

Ukraine volition beryllium receiving dozens of tactical aerial defence systems successful the coming months.

Day 1 of the NATO leaders summit saw US President Joe Biden denote "a historical donation of aerial defence instrumentality for Ukraine."

The deliveries would see astatine slightest 4 of the Patriot systems that Ukraine has requested.

The US, Germany and Romania volition nonstop Ukraine further Patriot batteries, according to a associated agreement.

The Netherlands and others volition supply Patriot components to marque up 1 much battery.

Other allies volition supply different aerial defence systems.

The announcement came aft NATO main Jens Stoltenberg called connected the leaders of the confederation to support enactment for Ukraine and said that "the top hazard volition beryllium if Russia wins successful Ukraine."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his acknowledgment for NATO's "strong declaration" regarding aerial defence and said it would assistance destruct Russian missiles and drones.

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What is expected during this year's summit?

The NATO 2024 acme is hosted by Washington DC, coinciding with the subject alliance's 75 anniversary.

The 3-day gathering volition absorption connected Russia's penetration of Ukraine as good arsenic countering increasing Chinese power connected the satellite stage. 

Outgoing Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is addressing the confederation members connected Tuesday. This volition beryllium his last summit, with erstwhile Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte taking implicit the reins successful October.

The leaders of non-member states New Zealand, Japan and South Korea volition be the acme for the 3rd twelvemonth successful a enactment amid increasing Chinese subject beingness successful the Pacific.

Ahead of the meeting, Stoltenberg announced a $43 cardinal (€39.7 billion) assistance bundle to Ukraine, a simplification from erstwhile packages that is expected to alteration further the pursuing year.

However, the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) program, which was approved successful June, is acceptable to cement assistance for Kyiv successful the aboriginal successful the lawsuit of a Trump presidency

Trump has suggested that helium volition beryllium little generous to Ukraine than Biden if elected successful November.

Biden, who is besides owed to talk connected Tuesday, was expected to usage the NATO acme successful Washington to property his lawsuit aft a tv statement against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in June near voters questioning if property was taking its toll connected the president.

kb/lo (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)