PM Shmyhal meets Slovak counterpart Fico near Ukraine's Uzhhorod
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's visit to Ukraine comes shortly after his comments that as long as he is the prime minister, he will block Kyiv's entry into NATO.
NATO
Ukraine war latest: Kyiv braces for Russian push near Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Key developments on Oct. 6: * Ukraine braces for Russian push near Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in coming days * Kyiv shows destruction of Russian Osa anti-aircraft system with FPV drone * NATO considering 'concrete steps' on Ukraine's accession at Ramstein summit, WP reports * Lithuania confiscates military goods from Kaliningrad-Moscow trains, gives them
NATO to expand military forces and air defense due to increased threats, Die Welt reports
NATO has been advised to significantly bolster its defense capabilities, as outlined in a report by German media channel Welt.
NATO considering 'concrete steps' on Ukraine's accession at Ramstein summit, WP reports
Ukraine may be offered "more concrete steps" regarding its NATO membership during the upcoming Ramstein summit, the Washington Post (WP) reported on Oct. 6, citing an undisclosed diplomat.
Stoltenberg suggests Ukraine could be granted NATO membership even with territories occupied by Russia
As of late August, Russia was in control of around 27% of Ukrainian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Shooting down Russian targets over Ukraine by NATO countries will 'involve' US in war, Pentagon says
"The president (Joe Biden) has made a commitment that the United States is not putting boots on the ground into Ukraine, but we are supporting Ukraine in their efforts to take back their sovereign territory," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.
Zelensky calls for jointly intercepting Russian missiles during NATO chief Rutte's visit to Kyiv
Newly appointed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Oct. 3 for a surprise visit, NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said.
Croatian president opposes country's participation in NATO's Ukraine mission
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic has refused to approve the participation of Croatian soldiers in NATO's mission to support Ukraine, citing concerns about the conflict potentially spreading to Croatia and prioritizing the safety of his country.
NATO 'inadequately' prepared for large-scale war with Russia, Gen. Ben Hodges says
NATO lacks adequate air defenses, military mobility, ammunition, and the mindset to be fully ready for a large-scale conventional war, retired U.S. Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said on Oct. 2.
Ukraine's defense procurement agencies should be kept separate, NATO reaffirms
The NATO statement came days after Umerov said the ministry was planning to merge the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Rear Operator (DOT) into one agency.
'Ukraine will be 2nd strongest NATO member' in Europe, Latvian FM says
Ukraine will have the second-strongest military in NATO on the European continent once it joins the alliance, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said on Oct. 1.
Biden may advance Ukraine's NATO membership bid status, FT reports
U.S. President Joe Biden may agree to advance the status of Ukraine's NATO membership bid before leaving office in January, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Oct. 1, citing an unnamed Western official.
Ukraine top of the agenda as Mark Rutte takes up NATO general secretary role
"We have to make sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation," Mark Rutte said on Oct. 1.
Open letter: President Biden, this is how you can uphold your legacy by supporting Ukraine
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed below are those of the author(s) and signatories and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Dear U.S. President Joe Biden, As Ukrainian cities continue to be targeted by Russian missiles and drones, bringing death and devastation to
Kremlin says recent adjustments to Russia's nuclear policy intended as a message to Western nations
The Kremlin on Sept. 26 emphasized that President Vladimir Putin’s revisions to Russia’s nuclear weapons doctrine should serve as a warning to Western nations, making clear that involvement in attacks on Russia would carry serious repercussions. A day earlier, Putin announced that Russia could respond to conventional missile
Zelensky meets with NATO's Stoltenberg in New York
President Volodymyr Zelensky met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in New York on Sept. 25, thanking him for "supporting Ukraine throughout his tenure." In a post on social media, Zelensky said the pair discussed several issues, including "the need to enhance Ukraine's air defense, (and) the continued efforts on
Invitation to NATO part of Ukraine's victory plan, Yermak confirms
An invitation to join NATO is part of Ukraine’s “victory plan,” head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said during a visit to the U.S. on Sept. 24.
OSINT project reports another failed Russian nuclear missile test
Open-source intelligence project MeNMyRC reported on Sept. 19 that a test launch of Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat Super-Heavy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) resulted in failure at the launch site in Plesetsk, Russia based on analysis of satellite images.
Zelensky begins visit to US, will share 'victory plan' with allies
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, he will visit an unspecified location in Pennsylvania and then travel to New York City and Washington, D.C. “Of course, I will present the ‘victory plan’ to all the leaders of the partner countries," he added.
NATO jets intercept six Russian aircraft flying over Baltic Sea
NATO jets intercepted six Russian aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea without transponders or a flight plan over the past two days, the Latvian Air Force reported late on Sept. 21.
Delivering more weapons to Ukraine will help ‘end the war’ sooner, Stoltenberg says
"The paradox is that the more weapons for Ukraine we are able to deliver, the more likely it is that we can reach a peace and end to the war," Stoltenberg said. "The more credible our long-term military support, the sooner the war will end."
Romania urges 'robust' NATO response to airspace violations by Russia
Speaking at a meeting of the Bucharest Nine (B9) format, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar called for "enforcing the rotational air defense and integrated anti-missile model as soon as possible."
'Too dangerous to ignore' – Russia's malicious activity in the Baltics set to test NATO resolve
“Russian intelligence is everywhere. And its propaganda is everywhere, not only in Estonia but all over the world,” Estonian President Alar Karis told the Kyiv Independent during an interview on the sidelines of the 20th annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) Conference in Kyiv. Russia has been actively meddling in the
Up to each NATO country to decide policy on Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities, Stoltenberg says
"It's for the individual allies to make these decisions, but it's important that we consult closely on these issues as we do," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
NATO could have done more to stop Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Stoltenberg says
Stoltenberg said the day the war was launched was the worst in his 10-year stint in the role, from which he is stepping down next month.
Sweden takes step toward supplying Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets
Weeks after Ukraine received its first batch of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets from European allies and more than a year after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the start of test trials on Sweden’s prestigious Gripen multipurpose variants, Stockholm signaled that their possible transfer to Ukraine remains on the
Latvia confirms Russian Shahed drone armed with explosive crashed on its territory
A Russian Shahed-type drone equipped with an explosive crashed in Latvia on Sept. 7, Latvia's Defense Ministry confirmed during a press conference on Sept. 9.
Zelensky's visit to Ramstein secures air defense, weapons for Ukraine
Ukraine received promises of more military aid from allies, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada, following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Sept. 6, which President Volodymyr Zelensky attended in person.
Notorious Russian military intelligence unit carrying out cyber attacks on Western countries, agencies warn
A notorious unit of Russia's military intelligence agency (GRU) is carrying out cyber attacks against critical infrastructure in NATO and EU countries, as well as Ukraine, Western intelligence agencies warned on Sept. 5.
US General Breedlove on balancing air superiority and drone warfare
Retired U.S. General Philip M. Breedlove discusses how the delayed introduction of F-16s has limited their immediate effectiveness in Ukraine and what lessons on balancing air superiority and drone warfare NATO should learn from Ukraine war.
US researchers identify likely launch site for Russia's new nuclear-powered missile, Reuters reports
Two U.S. researchers claim to have pinpointed the likely deployment site in Russia for the 9M730 Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile that President Vladimir Putin has hailed as "invincible."
Ukraine launched Kursk incursion without West's guidance, and ‘look how well it worked,’ says ex-NATO commander in Europe
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for clarity. Even as Ukraine's daring incursion into Russian territory brought the full-scale war back to the headlines around the world, Moscow's forces keep grinding on the eastern front, with dire implications for the entire Donbas region. Though Kyiv's operation achieved an
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