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☆ Turkey eyes recalibration with the West as Russia’s isolation grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Zeena Saifi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

His delicate balancing act has given Turkey a unique position of being the only NATO nation whose ear Russia has. “By backing Sweden’s NATO bid…Ankara is signaling a recalibration in ties with the West, which have been strained for a while now,” said Memet Celik, editorial coordinator for the pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper. “In a larger sense, Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine reminded the West of the importance of geography, hard military power, and alliance commitments – and thus the value of Turkey,” he said. Turkey, however, is likely to continue to be relevant to both Russia and the West. “Due to proximity, power, and relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, Turkey will be a key player in conflict resolution and whatever peace deal ultimately emerges,” said Outzen.

Persons: CNN —, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, ”, Memet Celik, Joe Biden, Washington, Biden, Tuesday’s, ” Erdogan, Rich Outzen, –, “, ” Viktor Bondarev, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s ‘, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Putin’s, Outzen, Russia’s “, Ukraine ”, Sinan Ulgen, Erdogan’s, Russia aren’t Organizations: CNN, Nordic, European Union, NATO, …, Daily, West, White House, Atlantic Council, Ukraine, “, Ankara, Russia’s Federation, Committee, Defense, Security, Putin, Kyiv Locations: NATO, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Turkey, Turkish, … Ankara, Daily Sabah, Vilnius, Lithuania, Ankara, “, “ Ankara, Istanbul, “ Turkey, Celik

☆ Biden welcomes Finland to NATO ahead of summit with Nordic leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Biden travelled to Finland, which shares a border with Russia, straight from this week's NATO talks in Vilnius, Lithuania to participate in a U.S.-Nordic summit with the leaders of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Norway. He will also hold a joint news conference with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto before heading back to Washington. Ahead of a bilateral meeting with Niinisto, Biden hailed Finland's as an "incredible asset" to the NATO military alliance. Niinisto said Finland's NATO membership heralded "a new era in our security", and applauded Biden for "creating unity" at the Vilnius summit which focused on uniting behind Ukraine. At this week's NATO summit, Biden described Finland and Sweden's push to join NATO as evidence Putin's "craven lust for land and power" had backfired, only serving to strengthen the military alliance.

Persons: Joe Biden disembarks, Finland Sauli, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Sauli Niinisto, Niinisto, Finland's, Tayyip Erdogan, craven, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Donald Trump, Putin, Steve Holland, Essi, Heather Timmons, Rosalba O'Brien, Emma Rumney Organizations: Air Force, United, Nordic, Summit, Read, NATO, Finland's, Russia, White, Ankara, White House, Thomson Locations: Helsinki, Vantaa, Finland, HELSINKI, Russia, Vilnius, Lithuania, U.S, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Washington, Soviet, Ukraine, Turkey

at the 2023 NATO Summit seen next to the Main Media Center, in Vilnius, Lithuania, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023. "We will stand with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression, for as long as it takes." The G7 said it would also seek to bolster Ukraine's economic stability, including through recovery efforts, "to create the conditions conducive to promoting Ukraine's economic prosperity." The countries vowed to provide technical and financial support for Ukraine's immediate needs as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion. Moscow sharply criticized the G7's security pledges to Ukraine.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Summit, Main Media Center, UN, Ukrainian, Kremlin, Google, London, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania, Moscow, Russia, Europe

☆ Factbox: Denied a NATO invitation, Ukraine still reaps rewards at summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

VILNIUS, July 12 (Reuters) - NATO leaders at this week's summit in Vilnius said Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance at some point in the future but dashed Kyiv's hopes for an immediate invitation. Below are some of the main commitments pledged to Ukraine in connection with the summit. In a declaration, NATO countries also pledged its support for Ukraine for "as long as it takes". Britain will also launch a project through NATO to establish a medical rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian soldiers. NORWEGIAN SUPPORTNorway will increase its military support to Ukraine by 2.5 billion crowns ($239 million) this year to 10 billion.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Niklas Pollard, John Irish, Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, Justyna, Alex Richardson Organizations: NATO, Ukraine Council, Ukraine, France, Challenger, GERMAN PATRIOTS German, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Vilnius, Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Kyiv, Moscow, Britain, Ukrainian, Denmark, Romania, Norway

☆ China lashes back at NATO criticism, warns it will protect its rights
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"The PRC's malicious hybrid and cyber operations and its confrontational rhetoric and disinformation target Allies and harm Alliance security." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at the summit that while China was not a NATO "adversary", it was increasingly challenging the rules-based international order with its "coercive behaviour." "Any act that jeopardises China's legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response," it said. In the communique, NATO also said China sought to control key technological and industrial sectors, critical infrastructure, and strategic materials and supply chains, and that Beijing also used its economic leverage to create strategic dependencies and enhance its influence. Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Woo; Editing by Tom Hogue and Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Fumio Kishida, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kishida, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Tom Hogue, Michael Perry Organizations: NATO, Alliance, South, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Asia, Pacific, Lithuanian, Vilnius, People's Republic of China, NATO, Ukraine, Taiwan, East Asia, Japan, Tokyo

NATO allies, instead, agreed that Ukraine would join eventually, when "allies agree and conditions are met," their statement said but offered no details on when, if ever, Kyiv would meet such conditions. Before leaving the United States to attend the summit, Biden bypassed allies' concerns about approving cluster munitions for Ukraine to battle Russia. Most Republicans seeking to unseat Biden have largely kept silent about Biden's performance during the NATO summit, suggesting they see little to gain by criticizing him. Trump has long admired Russian President Vladimir Putin and has expressed skepticism of extended U.S. involvement in the Ukraine war; on Tuesday he criticized Biden's decision to send munitions to Ukraine. Haley on Tuesday criticized the NATO alliance and Biden for not committing to add Ukraine.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, we've, Donald Trump, Ivo Daalder, Daalder, Trump, Vladimir Putin, Biden's, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, Haley, Steve Holland, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jonathan Landay, Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, John Irish, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: NATO, White, Atlantic, TRUMP, Trump, Republican, Democrat, Chicago Council, Global Affairs, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Europe, U.S, Ukraine, Lithuania, Sweden, Western, Vilnius, Kyiv, United States, Russia, Washington, Cyprus, Asia

☆ Opinion: As NATO shows unity, Putin has himself to thank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

One was taking control of Ukraine, which he claimed has no right to exist; the other was weakening NATO. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of its neighbor strengthened Ukrainians’ sense of nationhood and led to the expansion of NATO on Russia’s border. Putin can still take some solace in the intense disagreements inside NATO prior to the summit over whether or not Ukraine should be granted membership. There’s a strong case to be made that if Ukraine joins while Russia’s invasion continues, NATO allies could be required to enter the war. The argument that Ukraine should not be allowed into NATO because it would provoke Putin holds little sway.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin, Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine “, Volodymyr Zelensky’s, “ We’re, Joe Biden, ”, Zelensky, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Biden, That’s, outlast Putin, “ Putin, Erdogan’s, Erdogan, Turkey’s, Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, NATO, Frida Ghitis CNN, Nordic, European, Kremlin, Kyiv, US, Zelensky, Twitter, Azov Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkish, Sweden, Ukraine, Finland, Russia, Russia’s, Ukrainian, Russian, Kyiv, Moscow, Central Europe, Kremlin, Istanbul, Turkey, Mariupol

☆ Ukraine war live updates: G7 to announce security guarantees for Ukraine; Kremlin 'struck' by speed of Sweden, Finland NATO accession
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

G7 nations are expected to announce a framework guaranteeing Ukraine's long-term security on Wednesday, bloc member London said in an emailed statement. "The joint declaration, expected to be signed by all members of the G7, will set out how allies will support Ukraine over the coming years to end the war and deter and respond to any future attack," Downing Street said. "As Ukraine makes strategic progress in their counteroffensive, and the degradation of Russian forces begins to infect Putin's front line, we are stepping up our formal arrangements to protect Ukraine for the long term," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. He is currently attending a July 11-12 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, where members of the defense alliance have set aid to Ukraine at the top of the agenda. "Supporting their progress on the pathway to NATO membership, coupled with formal, multilateral, and bilateral agreements and the overwhelming support of NATO members will send a strong signal to President Putin and return peace to Europe," Sunak said.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Putin, Sunak, — Organizations: London, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania, Europe

☆ Leaders of Turkey and Greece vow to repair ties after year of tension
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania July 12, 2023. Dimitris Papamitsos/Greek Prime Minister's Office/Handout via REUTERSATHENS, July 12 (Reuters) - Greece and Turkey agreed on Wednesday to resume talks and confidence-building measures as they hailed a new "positive climate" in ties after more than a year of tensions between the historic foes. Relations improved when Greece became one of the first countries to send rescue workers to help pull survivors from the rubble after a devastating earthquake hit Turkey in February. "We are cautiously optimistic we can turn a new page," Mitsotakis told reporters after the summit. Reporting by Renee Maltezou; Additional reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Conor HumphriesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Tayyip Erdogan, Dimitris Papamitsos, Erdogan, Mitsotakis, Renee Maltezou, Huseyin Hayatsever, Conor Humphries Organizations: NATO, Minister's, REUTERS, Atlantic Treaty Organization, Greek, Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, REUTERS ATHENS, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, United States, Greek, Thessalonki

☆ Ads on buses at the NATO summit are shaming delegates for not giving F-16s to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

NATO members have hesitated in providing Ukraine with all the weapons its requested. Buses carrying delegates to and from the conference venue showed the slogan "while you are waiting for this bus, Ukraine is waiting to become a NATO member," reported CNN, in a reference to NATO members hesitating in admitting Ukraine to the alliance. Other pictures showed buses with the message "while you were waiting for this bus, Ukraine is waiting for F-16s," referring to the US fighter jets Ukraine has long requested. NATO member states have committed to training Ukrainian pilots with the jets, but have not committed to providing any actual planes. NATO members have sought to project an image of unity and defiance at the summit in response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: hesitating, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's Organizations: NATO, Service, CNN, Ukraine's Pravda, Soviet Union, EU Locations: Vilnius, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Lithuanian, Russia, Lithuania, Soviet, Europe

☆ 'We will not waver:' Biden reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine as Zelenskyy pushes to join NATO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a speech on NATO at the Vilnius University in Vilnius, Lithuania, after the end of the NATO Summit, July 12, 2023. WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden galvanized NATO allies and reaffirmed U.S. commitment to Ukraine Wednesday as Russia's devastating war on its neighbor marches past its 500th day. The U.S. stepped up, NATO stepped up and our partners in the Indo-Pacific stepped up," Biden said in an address from Vilnius, Lithuania. "We will not waver," he said, promising that the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes." The allies welcomed the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reiterated calls to join NATO and vowed its membership would make the world's most powerful military alliance stronger.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: NATO, Vilnius University, NATO Summit, WASHINGTON, Ukraine, Kyiv Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukraine, U.S, Lithuania's

"Today there are security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO," he said. "The Ukraine delegation is bringing home a significant security victory for Ukraine." Speaking earlier alongside Zelenskiy, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine was closer to the alliance than ever before, and brushed aside new warnings from Russia about the consequences of supporting Ukraine. The security assurances for Ukraine had to be "credible", he said, in order to deter Russia from future attacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "potentially very dangerous" for the West to give Ukraine security guarantees.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, we're, Biden, Zelenskiy, Jens Stoltenberg, Rishi Sunak, Yves Herman, Stoltenberg, Dmitry Peskov, Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, John Irish, Steve Holland, Justyna Pawlak, Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, Max Hunder, Gabriela Baczynska, Matthias Williams, Alex Richardson, William Maclean Organizations: Ukraine Ukrainian, Ukraine, NATO, Kyiv, U.S, British, REUTERS, Zelenskiy, Twitter, Thomson Locations: United States, Ukraine, U.S, VILNIUS, Russia, Russian, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, Italy, Britain, Zelenskiy, Vilnius, Lithuania, Budapest, Moscow, Netherlands, NATO, Kyiv, Soviet Union, Washington, Berlin, Europe

News analysisPresident Biden and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, with G7 leaders at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday. Mr. Zelensky has never pushed for Ukrainian NATO membership while the war is raging, nor has anyone else. Mr. Zelensky has never pushed for Ukrainian NATO membership while the war is raging. “I think the win here for Ukraine is the sort of cultural acceptance that Ukraine belongs in NATO,” he said. Image French President Emmanuel Macron has moved from opposition to Ukrainian membership in NATO to strong support for it.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Zelensky, Mauricio Lima, John Kornblum, Mr, Kornblum, “, Emmanuel Macron, Michal Baranowski, François Heisbourg, ” Ben Wallace, Macron, Ludovic Marin, Jens Stoltenberg, Russia —, Olaf Scholz, Germany, Doug Mills, Camille Grand, Heisbourg, Ukraine can’t, ” Lara Jakes Organizations: NATO, Lithuania — NATO, Kyiv, Ukraine, Central, Ukrainian NATO, Grad, The New York Times, Ukraine Council, German Marshall Fund, “, ”, Washington, Agence France, Russia, New York Times, Ukraine —, European Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, VILNIUS, Turkey, Ukraine, NATO, Ukrainian, American, Germany, France, Warsaw, “ Ukraine, Bucharest, French, United States, Bratislava, Central Europe, Russia

☆ White House takes a victory lap after inflation report comes in cooler than expected
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday celebrated new data that showed inflation cooling more quickly than expected. "Good jobs and lower costs: That's Bidenomics in action," Biden said in a statement. Year over year, inflation rose 3%, the lowest level in more than two years. Core CPI, which does not include food and energy costs, rose 4.8% from a year ago and 0.2% on a monthly basis. "Our progress creating jobs while lowering costs for families is no accident, and I will continue to fight for lower costs for families every day."

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, Lael Brainard, " Brainard Organizations: NATO, WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Labor Statistics, CPI, Economic, of New Locations: Vilnius, of New York, U.S, United States

☆ Analysis: Biden got almost everything he wanted from the NATO summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —President Joe Biden got almost everything he wanted from the NATO summit. President Joe Biden speaks at Vilnius University in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, after attending the NATO Summit. On Wednesday for instance, Russia marked the NATO summit by launching airstrikes against Kyiv region. US President Joe Biden (R) attends a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius on July 12, 2023. That President Biden and NATO didn’t invite Ukraine to NATO because he’s afraid of Russia?” Kaleniuk asked.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, craves, “ It’s, ” Biden, Zelensky, Biden, “, ” Zelensky, Russia –, Putin, NATO’s, craven, Susan Walsh, –, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Vladimir Putin, Jeff Flake, Fumio Kishida, barnstormed, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Jake Sullivan, Daria Kaleniuk, ” Kaleniuk, Sullivan, Dmitry Peskov, Ukraine –, William Burns, he’d, ” Organizations: CNN, NATO, Poignantly, Russia, Congress, Nordic, Biden, Vilnius University, Ukraine, Capitol, Republican, Japanese, GOP, ” Ukraine, AFP, Getty, “, NATO didn’t, Kremlin, CIA Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, Europe, Sweden, Finland, Kyiv, Lithuania, Vilnius, Western, Crimea, US, Ankara, Turkey, AFP, Ukrainian, NATO, Moscow, Russian

☆ America Is Running Out of Ammo
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Review and Outlook: As the U.S. announces cluster bombs will be included in its $800 million package of military aid to Ukraine, a revived NATO comes to Vilnius with uncertainty surrounding the future leadership. Images: AP/Zuma Press Composite: Mark KellyPresident Biden is taking flak for sending cluster bombs to Ukraine, and over the weekend he blurted out the truth that both Kyiv and the U.S. are running low on firepower. So why doesn’t the Commander in Chief unveil a new national effort to expand U.S. weapons production and stocks?

Persons: Mark Kelly President Biden Organizations: Zuma Locations: Ukraine, NATO, Vilnius, U.S

☆ Scenes from NATO's leaders summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jillian Kumagai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena Zelenska walk on the day of a ceremony during which a Ukrainian flag from the frontline of the war with Russia was delivered by activists, on the sidelines of a NATO leaders summit in...moreUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena Zelenska walk on the day of a ceremony during which a Ukrainian flag from the frontline of the war with Russia was delivered by activists, on the sidelines of a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11. REUTERS/Kacper PempelClose

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Olena, Pempel Organizations: NATO, REUTERS Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Vilnius, Lithuania

☆ Torrential rain floods streets in New Delhi
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jillian Kumagai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, is taking place as Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive, which began last month, proceeds more slowly than Kyiv had hoped against the heavily dug-in Russian positions.

Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Kyiv

☆ Live updates: Russia's war in Ukraine, NATO Summit in Vilnius
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

Russia targeted grain facilities in Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa overnight with Shahed attack drones, according to Ukrainian military officials. Debris from successful interceptions caused fires in two terminals, including one holding grain, officials said, but damage from the fires was minimal before they were extinguished. Odesa is Ukraine’s largest port and the starting point for grain shipments through the Black Sea and on to world markets. The passage of ships carrying Ukrainian grain has been governed by a deal involving Russia, Ukraine and Turkey since July last year. The arrangement is currently due to expire next week and Russian officials have expressed reluctance to extend it.

Locations: Russia, Odesa, Ukraine, Turkey

☆ NATO's Stoltenberg: Ukraine can join bloc when members agree and conditions are met
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VILNIUS, July 11 (Reuters) - NATO will extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance when "members agree and conditions are met", Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference on Tuesday. Stoltenberg's comments reflected the language in a communique issued by NATO leaders on Tuesday at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said earlier in the day it would be "absurd" if NATO leaders did not offer his country a timeframe for membership. "If you look at all the membership processes, there have not been timelines for those processes. Reporting by Andrew Gray, writing by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Stoltenberg, Andrew Gray, Tassilo Hummel, Frank Jack Daniel, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: NATO, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania

VILNIUS, July 11 (Reuters) - NATO leaders have agreed at a summit in Vilnius that Ukraine's future lies within the alliance but stopped short of handing Kyiv the invitation or timetable for accession that the country has been seeking. At the same time, NATO dropped the requirement for Ukraine to fulfil a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP), effectively removing a hurdle on Kyiv's way into the alliance. "Ukraine's future is in NATO," a declaration agreed by the leaders on Tuesday said, adding Kyiv's Euro-Atlantic integration had moved beyond the need for a Membership Action Plan. "We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met," the declaration said. Reporting by Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray and John Irish, Editing by Charlotte Van CampenhoutOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, John Irish, Charlotte Van Campenhout Organizations: NATO, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Vilnius, Ukraine

☆ Sweden's path to NATO membership cleared after Turkey greenlights bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to back Sweden's bid to join NATO, clearing the latter's pathway to become a part of the military alliance. "Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO allies at this critical time. The move was swiftly criticized and threatened to derail Sweden's NATO membership bid. NATO said Sweden and Turkey have cooperated closely to address the latter's security concerns since last year's summit. NATO's expansion along Europe's eastern flank with Finland and Sweden's membership could also make the military alliance "much stronger," Courtney added.

Persons: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jens Stoltenberg, Erdogan, Joe Biden, Erdoğan, William Courtney, Courtney Organizations: NATO, Turkey, PKK, Kurdish Workers ' Party, U.S, RAND Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkey, Sweden, Finland, Syria, Sweden's, Ankara

☆ NATO Says It Will Invite Ukraine to Join, but Offers No Timeline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since before Russia invaded Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking NATO for membership — an aspiration fixed in Ukraine’s Constitution since 2019. Today, at the alliance’s summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, all 31 NATO leaders agreed to offer an invitation. Zelensky called NATO’s lack of specifics “absurd,” but did soften his tone when he arrived at the summit. The main reason for denying Ukraine membership is because of the ongoing war with Russia. “NATO’s collective defense promise, the famous Article V, would mean that every NATO member is obligated to fight for Ukraine,” my colleague Steven Erlanger said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Vladimir Putin —, “, Steven Erlanger, ” Organizations: NATO, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Constitution, Vilnius, Lithuania

☆ NATO Summit 2023: Biden and alliance leaders enter summit with a show of force
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Vilnius, Lithuania CNN —President Joe Biden and alliance leaders enter the first day of the high-stakes NATO Summit Tuesday with a reinvigorated sense of unity after a major win on Monday evening when Turkey agreed to Sweden’s bid to join the alliance. Biden and other members have touted unprecedented unity among the alliance in the face of Russia’s war, and the move also provides leaders a significant show of force going into the summit. “We’re coming into this consequential summit with a full head of steam,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in Vilnius Tuesday morning. “When the NATO summit gets underway, our alliance will not only be bigger and stronger than ever, it will be more united, more purposeful, and more energized than at any point in modern memory. He pointed to questions about unity in the past week as he warned that the Vilnius summit will “very much disappoint” Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Persons: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin’s, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Biden, Jake Sullivan, Biden’s, ”, Sullivan, Ulf Kristersson, Antony Blinken, Vladimir Putin, ” Sullivan, “, ’ Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba, ” Biden, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Zakaria, Rishi Sunak, Gitanas Nausėda, Jens Stoltenberg, Erdoğan, Sunak, King Charles III Organizations: Lithuania CNN, NATO, Biden, Swedish, White, Transatlantic Alliance, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Ukraine, US, United, Prime, Oslo Convention, Lithuania, Windsor Castle Locations: Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkey, Russia, Sweden, Lithuanian, Turkish, Hungary, Ukraine, Oslo, United States, Windsor

NATO declared on Tuesday that Ukraine would be invited to join the alliance, but did not say how or when, disappointing its president but reflecting the resolve by President Biden and other leaders not to be drawn directly into Ukraine’s war with Russia. The wording means that Mr. Biden, who declared last week that “Ukraine isn’t ready for NATO membership,” and like-minded allies had prevailed over Poland and Baltic nations that wanted a formal invitation for Ukraine to join the alliance as soon as the war ends. NATO leaders released the document, a compromise product after weeks of argument, at a summit meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. Hours earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, apparently aware of what it would say, issued a blast at the NATO leadership. “It’s unprecedented and absurd when a time frame is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine’s membership,” he wrote on Twitter before landing in Vilnius.

Persons: Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, ” Organizations: NATO, Russia, Twitter Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Baltic, Vilnius, Lithuania

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