Though it does not mention the specific countries behind the air defense pledges, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 18 singled out the U.S., U.K., and France during his evening address in which he called on allies to speed up deliveries of promised weapons systems.
Lithuania on Aug. 19 began construction of a military base that will house up to 4,000 combat-ready German troops, with completion expected by the end of 2027. This marks the first permanent foreign deployment for the German military since World War II.
"I don't think that the full regaining of control over the entire territory is a necessary condition (for joining NATO)," Czech President Petr Pavel said.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz signed a $10 billion agreement with U.S. company Boeing for 96 Apache attack helicopters for the country's army, Polish media reported on Aug. 13.
The alleged plans, drawn up between 2008 and 2014, include lists of targets for missiles that can carry both conventional warheads and tactical nuclear weapons.
Captain Michael Giss, commander of the Hamburg State Command of the German Armed Forces, said Germany must prepare to withstand "a conventional attack by Russia within five years."
Sofia said that this decision gives a "clear signal" of its commitment to supporting Ukraine, upholding Euro-Atlantic values, and strengthening allied solidarity in joint efforts to maintain international peace and security.
The U.S. defense contractor Raytheon was granted a $478-million contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to supply GEM-T missile interceptors to Germany, the company said on Aug. 6.
Warsaw and Bucharest have repeatedly scrambled fighter jets to protect their airspace as Russian forces launched large-scale aerial attacks on Ukraine, but they have never been used to destroy these targets.
The German and Swedish air forces scrambled NATO jets on Aug. 3 after two Russian jets were detected heading toward Latvian airspace over the Baltic Sea.
"I do not understand why Hungary wants to remain a member of organizations that they dislike so much and that supposedly mistreat them," Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Wladyslaw Teofil Bartoszewski said.
"More heinous attacks have been perpetrated by Russia against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Debris has been found on Romanian territory," Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu wrote on X.
The European Union must stay committed to its policy that any discussions about ending the war in Ukraine should be led by the government in Kyiv, according to Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.
Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colorado, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli said even a Ukrainian victory would only be the beginning of Western attempts to contain Russian aggression.
Speaking at a European Political Community (EPC) meeting in the U.K., Scholz said that Kyiv's request for NATO allies to intercept Russian arms flying over Ukraine is "out of the question."
"The main message is that the stronger the support for Ukraine and the longer we are willing to commit, the sooner this war can end," Stoltenberg told BBC. "The paradox is that now (Russian) President Putin believes that he can wait us out. So therefore, the war continues."
King Charles III emphasized continued support for Ukraine, aiming for a leading role in facilitating Ukraine's path to NATO membership.
"Patrick Turner brings years of leadership and experience to the role. As a committed public servant, he has a strong track record of delivering results," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev сlaimed that Ukraine joining NATO would be viewed as a declaration of war against Moscow. "The actions that Russia's opponents have been taking against us for years, expanding the alliance ... take NATO to the point of no return," Medvedev was quoted as saying.
Key developments on July 15: * Last Russian patrol ship left occupied Crimea, Ukraine's navy says * Mobilization is going 'according to plan,' but there are not enough training facilities, Zelensky says * Syrskyi orders inspection of 59th Motorized Brigade after recent losses * 44% of Ukrainians believe it's time to start official
"NATO will support Ukraine, and we have now increased our support...But NATO's policy is unchanged – we will not be involved in this conflict," NATO's outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on July 14.
"I welcome the decision of the allies to open up the possibility of greater use of weapons to strike these targets," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
The news comes days after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on July 11 said that China is a "decisive enabler" of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Orban refused to back military support for Ukraine during the summit on July 11 and suggested that Kyiv should not join the alliance, according to Bloomberg’s sources
President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed being introduced as "President Putin" by his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden earlier this week. "It's a mistake. I think the U.S. gave a lot of support for Ukrainians. We can forget some mistakes, I think so," Zelensky said.
Pyongyang denounced the NATO summit declaration, calling it "illegal" and claiming that the "U.S. and NATO pose the most serious threat to global peace and security."
Ukraine should become a NATO member sooner rather than later to ensure security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with CNN on July 12.
Finland's parliament passed a law on July 12 granting border guards the authority to block asylum seekers crossing from Russia. Helsinki believes Moscow is promoting the crossings in retaliation for Finland joining NATO.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This year’s NATO summit ended better than last year’s, but with no firm invitation to enter the alliance and Ukraine’s needs on the battlefield mounting, some observers believe the lack of commitment gives Russia the green light to carry on with its war. While
Belarus joins the Shanghai Cooperation Organization led by Russia and China, aiming for political legitimacy and developing “anti-sanction measures.” Chinese and Belarusian militaries conduct joint drills near NATO and Ukraine borders. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko releases 18 political prisoners while adding 17 more to the list. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus
"Russia's apparent GPS jamming is likely part of Russia's intensifying hybrid campaign directly targeting NATO states likely aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and NATO unity," the ISW said.
"We have to make sure that (Chinese President Xi Jinping) understands there's a price to pay for undercutting both the Pacific basin as well as Europe, and it relates to Russia and dealing with Ukraine," U.S. President Joe Biden said during the NATO summit in the U.S. capital.
