live blog
According to US experts, Ukraine has gained considerable territory in its counter-offensive. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg expects the meeting in Vilnius to send a signal for stronger support for Ukraine. All developments in the live blog.
09:55 am
Kremlin warns against Ukraine joining NATO
The Kremlin has threatened Russia to take countermeasures if Ukraine joins NATO. The country’s accession will have “very negative consequences for the entire and already half-destroyed security architecture of Europe and pose an absolute danger and threat to our country,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Such a step would require a “rather tough and understandable reaction” from the Russian side.
The Kremlin knows that before the summit in Lithuania there is currently a lively debate among NATO members about Ukraine’s accession and “that there are different positions on this,” Peskov said. The “Kiev regime” is using various means to “put pressure on all those involved so that as many countries as possible demonstrate their solidarity on this issue in the run-up to this summit”.
09:55 am
Stoltenberg expects increased aid for Ukraine from the NATO summit
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expects the summit in Lithuania to send a signal for stronger support for Ukraine. It is particularly important to secure the continued supply of ammunition to Ukraine, said Stoltenberg before the official start of the top-level meeting in Vilnius.
When asked whether the summit would give security guarantees to the country attacked by Russia for the post-war period, Stoltenberg said he expected clear decisions to be taken to continue and increase aid to Ukraine. “And I am also confident that on the issue of membership, allies will reaffirm that Ukraine will become a member.”
09:55 am
US institute: Kiev achieves important ground gains in counteroffensive
According to US experts, since the start of its counter-offensive five weeks ago, Ukraine has liberated almost as much territory as Russia had conquered in more than six months. Since June 4, the Ukrainian military has been able to retake about 253 square kilometers of land, the US Institute for War Studies (ISW) said based on its own data. In comparison, Russia has captured 282 square kilometers in six months during its winter offensive that launched on January 1, according to the ISW.
The institute points out that it uses its own data to compare the land gains of both countries. The Ukraine counter-offensive, which has been linked with great expectations, has been underway since the beginning of June. According to estimates by Western military observers, progress is slow. However, the latest ISW figures suggest that it is still more successful than the Russian winter offensive.
8:43 a.m
Sullivan: “Positives Signal an Ukraine”
According to US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, NATO will respond to Ukraine’s intentions to join with a “positive signal”. Sullivan addresses journalists on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Lithuania. There, negotiators from the 31 member states are in the process of drafting a statement showing Ukraine’s path to membership in the military alliance.
8:14 a.m
What NATO prospects does Ukraine have?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj sees a “year of decision” approaching and demands that Ukraine be officially invited to the NATO summit. But the alliance states are reluctant. Armament aid, security guarantees, partial membership, full membership, later or now – what is a realistic perspective for Ukraine?
4:36 a.m
Ukraine: Air raid on Kyiv repelled
According to the head of the military administration in Kiev, Serhiy Popko, the Ukrainian air defense repelled another Russian air attack on the capital overnight. This is the second airstrike on Kiev this month, the Kiev military administration said on the online service Telegram. The attack with Iranian-design drones caused minor damage, and all air targets discovered in the direction of Kiev were destroyed. Windows and extensions of houses were damaged.
The Ukrainian military did not initially say how many drones were involved. There was also no information about possible victims. According to the local administration, the port city of Odessa was also attacked during the night. The air defense had been activated, it said.
conflicting parties as a source
Information on the course of the war, shelling and casualties provided by official bodies of the Russian and Ukrainian conflict parties cannot be directly checked by an independent body in the current situation.
4:05 a.m
Russia condemns NATO solidarity with Ukraine
Russia has expressed anger at the solidarity with Ukraine expected at the NATO summit. “Everything is being done to prepare local public opinion for approval of anti-Russian decisions that will be taken in Vilnius in the coming days,” Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov wrote on the Telegram channel of the mission in Washington . With the expected decisions, the USA drove NATO into the “worst case” confrontation with Moscow.
4:36 a.m
Great Britain expands production of artillery shells
Against the background of deliveries to Ukraine, Great Britain is expanding the production capacity of artillery shells. The armaments company BAE Systems has received new orders worth around 222 million euros, the British government announced. The deal with BAE will create 100 new jobs at sites in England and Wales.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also announce at the NATO summit in Lithuania that Britain’s production capacity for 155mm artillery ammunition will be increased eightfold. Most NATO armies used this ammunition as standard.
2:16 a.m
Biden and Zelenskyi meet in Vilnius
As part of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold one-to-one talks on Wednesday, according to US sources.
2:09 a.m
Duda: There are no negotiations to be held with Putin
Under the current circumstances, Polish President Andrzej Duda has ruled out negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and accused him of inhuman treatment of his own troops. Duda said in an interview for “Bild”, “Welt” and “Politico”: “For me, Vladimir Putin is someone who is being prosecuted and with whom there are no negotiations.”
Duda would not change his position “until Russia shows the determination to respect international law.” However, that is not the case at the moment, according to the Polish President. Russia must begin to “withdraw its army from the territory of Ukraine”.
1:05 a.m
Monday’s live blog to read
The NATO countries have reportedly agreed on new defense plans against possible Russian attacks. Russia is said to have doubled production of the Su-34 and Su-35 fighter jets. Monday’s live blog to read.