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The White House has said Biden was never in business with his son. "Republicans may have to find something else to criticize me for now that inflation is coming down. "Workers who have been left behind for decades aren't just finding jobs, more jobs, they're finding better jobs, with higher pay," Biden said. Biden detailed decades of job loss in Maine, as the state's historical industries, including textiles and paper, shut factories for lower-cost destinations. Several Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives met at the White House on Friday to discuss implementing the $1 trillion infrastructure bill that Biden has signed into law.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, Hunter Biden, David Weiss of, Jonathan Ernst Biden's, Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, Steny Hoyer, Jarrett Renshaw, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Leslie Adler, Heather Timmons, Deepa Babington Organizations: Republican, Republicans, U.S, Trump, White, Workers, Auburn Manufacturing Inc, FOCUS, Auburn Manufacturing, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Auburn, Democratic, U.S . House, Thomson Locations: AUBURN, Maine, Washington, David Weiss of Delaware, U.S, Auburn , Maine, Auburn, Maine’s, New England

July 28 (Reuters) - The United States and its partners are communicating with military leaders in Niger, a State Department spokesperson said on Friday, as Washington warned a military takeover could end U.S. cooperation with the nation. Coup leaders in Niger on Friday declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state following the seventh military takeover in West and Central Africa in less than three years. Military leaders from ECOWAS nations and international partners including the United States are in communication with a broad array of military leaders in Niger," the State Department spokesperson said. So far in fiscal year 2023, the U.S. has provided nearly $138 million in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Niger, the State Department spokesperson said. The State Department spokesperson said there was no announcement about when she would travel to Niger.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, John Kirby, Washington, Washington's, Biden, Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Steve Holland, Daphne Psaledakis, Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis, Sandra Maler, Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: State Department, Friday, Military, White House, U.S . Agency for International Development, ., Pentagon, DoD, Department of Defense, The State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Niger, Washington, West, Central Africa, U.S, Africa's, Niger . U.S

☆ Biden says deal may be in offing with Saudi Arabia, provides no details
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FREEPORT, Maine, July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday a deal may be on the way with Saudi Arabia after talks that his national security adviser had with Saudi officials in Jeddah aimed at reaching a normalization in relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. "There’s a rapprochement maybe under way," Biden told contributors to his 2024 re-election campaign at an event in Freeport, Maine. Biden did not give details about the possible deal. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, in a piece published on Thursday, said Biden was considering whether to pursue a U.S.-Saudi mutual security pact that would involve Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. U.S. officials see a potential deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia as possible after the administration of former President Donald Trump reached similar agreements between Israel and Morocco, Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Thomas Friedman, Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Donald Trump, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Dan Whitcomb, Grant McCool Organizations: Saudi, New York Times, White House, Middle East, White, United, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: FREEPORT, Maine, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Israel, Freeport , Maine, U.S, Saudi, White, Morocco, Sudan, Bahrain, United Arab

☆ Top US Republican McCarthy ponders Biden impeachment probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"What is happening right now are the committees of jurisdiction are continuing to investigate," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters. McCarthy spoke to reporters a day before Hunter Biden was expected to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and to enter into an agreement that could avert a conviction on a gun-related charge. Among other allegations, Republicans claim that the Justice Department intervened to restrain the Hunter Biden probe, though the Trump-appointed prosecutor in that case has said he was not constrained. House Republicans have sought to defend Trump against allegations of wrongdoing by accusing Biden of "weaponizing" the Justice Department against the leading 2024 Republican White House candidate. "There is no evidence of Joe or Hunter Biden interfering with Ukrainian politics, and there never has been," Parnas said in a July 18 letter to the House Oversight Committee.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Hunter Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Karine Jean, Pierre, He's, Jean, impeaching Biden, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Trump, REBUTS, David Weiss, Weiss, Lindsey Graham, Trump's, Lev Parnas, Rudy Giuliani, Joe, Parnas, David Morgan, Steve Holland, Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Republican, U.S . Congress, Democratic, White, Justice Department, House Republicans, Trump, Republican White House, Internal Revenue, Department, New, New York City, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, New York, Ukrainian, American, Russian

"Darkness and denialism can hide much but they erase nothing," Biden told guests in the ornate, marble-edged Indian Treaty Room next to the White House, before signing the proclamation. [1/5]U.S. President Joe Biden signs a proclamation to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument in Illinois and Mississippi, at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 25, 2023. Signs erected at Graball Landing since 2008 to commemorate Till's killing have been repeatedly defaced by gunfire. Biden screened a film recounting the killing and its aftermath, "Till," at the White House in February. Last March, he signed into law a bipartisan bill named for Till that for the first time made lynching a federal hate crime.

Persons: Joe Biden, Emmett Till, Mamie Till, Bradley, Biden, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Frantz, Patrick Weems, Emmett, Thomas Edison's, Wheeler Parker Jr, Till's, Parker, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jonathan Allen, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Lincoln, Mark Porter Organizations: Rights, White, Republican, REUTERS, Temple Church of God, National Park Service, of, Thomson Locations: Chicago, Money , Mississippi, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Washington , U.S, Tallahatchie, Sumner , Mississippi, America, Washington

☆ Biden administration pushing insurers to improve access to mental health treatment
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden is making a fresh push to force health insurance companies to improve access to mental health treatment for Americans who too often struggle to find and afford the care they need, officials said on Tuesday. The administration on Tuesday will release the text of a proposed rule change to the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. The rule change would require health plans to make changes when they are providing inadequate access to mental health care. It would also provide specific examples that make clear that health plans cannot use more restrictive prior authorization, other medical management techniques or narrower networks that make it harder for people to access mental health and substance use disorder benefits. "We've learned that insurers are evading the mandate of the law," White House domestic adviser Neera Tanden said in a conference call with reporters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, We've, Neera Tanden, Steve Holland, Jamie Freed Organizations: White, House, Thomson Locations: U.S

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2023. Despite Washington’s longtime status as Israel’s top ally and biggest weapons supplier, Biden appears to have few good options. The White House, in a terse statement, called the Knesset vote "unfortunate" and urged work toward a broad consensus. But U.S. officials have yet to set a date or concur with Israeli statements that they would meet at the White House in September. One White House official said Biden, having known Netanyahu for decades, can be especially blunt with him in private.

Persons: Joe Biden, Isaac Herzog, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, It's, Aaron David Miller, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Israel's, David Makovsky, Obama, Donald Trump, Herzog, Netanyahu’s, Tom Nides, Barack Obama, Miller, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Simon Lewis, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Israeli, Court, Israel, Democratic, Republican, Biden's Democratic Party, Washington Institute, West Bank, White House, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Israel, derailing, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Washington

Pentagon officials had widely expected the nomination to go to Admiral Samuel Paparo, who leads the Navy in the Pacific and who has experience grappling with the growing challenge from China. "Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas," Biden said in a statement, noting that she was the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy. Last year, Biden picked Admiral Linda Fagan to lead the U.S. Coast Guard, making her its first female commanding officer. Franchetti would become the first woman to lead a military service within the Defense Department and to join the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a group of eight top uniformed service members who advise the president on military issues. Biden also elevated Paparo, nominating him to become the commander of all U.S. military forces in the Pacific.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Joe Biden, Lisa Franchetti, Biden, Samuel Paparo, Franchetti, Admiral Franchetti, Linda Fagan, Stephen, Koehler, Paparo, Tommy Tuberville, Charles " C.Q, Brown, Tuberville, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, Jasper Ward, Rami Ayyub, Sharon Singleton, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S . Marines, U.S . Navy, U.S . Navy Wasp, Fleet, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Navy, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Pentagon, Pacific, U.S . Naval Forces Korea, U.S . Coast Guard, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Defense Department, Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Senate, Air Force, Marine Corps, United States Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: U.S, Bataan, New York, China

July 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Florida "extremists" on Friday for backing educational guidelines that taught "revisionist history" about slavery in the United States. Harris, the first Black and Asian-American woman to serve as vice president, flew to Florida, a political swing state whose governor, Ron DeSantis, is running for the Republican presidential nomination, to deliver a blistering speech condemning the new guidelines. The board of education approved the new teaching guidelines for kindergarten through high school on Wednesday. Florida's education commissioner, Manny Diaz Jr., said during the board meeting in Orlando that the guidelines go in to the "tougher subjects" of slavery and racist violence, as appropriate by age. President Joe Biden, with Harris as his vice president, is running for re-election in 2024.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Ron DeSantis, Manny Diaz Jr, William Allen, Frances Presley Rice, DeSantis, Donald Trump, Walt Disney, Joe Biden, Jeff Mason, Brad Brooks, Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Republican, Thomson Locations: Florida, United States, Orlando, Washington, Texas

North Korea's state media, which in the past reported on the detention of U.S. nationals, have also not commented on the incident so far. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt." State Department spokesman Miller said Sweden has been engaged as it acts as a diplomatic channel for Washington which remains technically at war with North Korea. North Korea has previously detained Americans who entered the country and put them on trial but eventually released them, often following high-level diplomatic intervention. A former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea said King may be used as a propaganda tool, but it was not clear how long North Korea would want to exploit his presence.

Persons: Kim Hong, Ji, Travis T, Matthew Miller, King, Sarah Leslie, Miller, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Otto Warmbier, hyang Choi, Phil Smith, Steve Holland, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, State Department, Pentagon, Korean People's Army, North, Joint Security Area, New Zealand, Reuters, . State, U.S, United Nations Command, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, U.S, Sweden, North Korea, SEOUL, WASHINGTON, Washington, Pyongyang, North, United States, New, Korea, Korean, Seoul

It has already taken aim at meatpacking, ocean shipping and consumer junk fees. "We cannot accept bad mergers that lead to mass layoffs, higher prices and fewer options for workers and consumers," Biden said. Hannah Garden Monheit, the new director of Competition Council Policy at the National Economic Council, told Reuters the administration would "use all the tools that we have" to curb anti-competitive practices. [1/2]U.S. President Joe Biden speaks as he convenes a meeting of the White House Competition Council in the State Dining room at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 19, 2023. Biden has repeatedly called for federal agencies, Congress and private companies to address surprise fees that can jack up consumers' cost by 20%.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, I've, Hannah, Monheit, Sean Heather, Evelyn Hockstein Morgan Harper, Harper, Elizabeth Warren, Andrea Shalal, Diane Bartz, Leah Douglas, Leslie Adler, Heather Timmons, Daniel Wallis, Diane Craft Organizations: White House Competition Council, WASHINGTON, White, Biden, House, Competition, National Economic Council, Reuters, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Competition Council, REUTERS, Consumer Financial, Bureau, American Economic Liberties, Big Tech, Google, Democratic, Federal Trade Commission, Department of Agriculture, D.C, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington , U.S, Washington

[1/2] Israeli President Isaac Herzog looks on during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, not pictured, in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2022. Stefani Reynolds/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog will address Congress on Wednesday, completing a visit aimed at reassuring the United States that Israel's democracy remains strong despite government attempts to overhaul the country's judicial system. The invitation was extended by the leaders of Congress last year to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding. Biden had held off extending the invitation out of concern over Jewish settlements and the planned judicial overhaul. Proponents of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul say the country's Supreme Court has become too interventionist and that the change will facilitate effective governance.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Antony Blinken, Stefani Reynolds, Joe Biden, Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, Chaim Herzog, Herzog's, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Narendra Modi's, Netanyahu, Barack Obama's, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, U.S . House, Senate, West Bank, Washington, Twitter, Capitol, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Democratic, White, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, REUTERS WASHINGTON, United States, Israel, Washington, Palestinian, Alexandria, Barack Obama's Iran

☆ White House: Russia may attack civilian shipping in Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - The White House warned on Wednesday that Russia may expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Adam Hodge, White House National Security Council spokesperson, said U.S. officials have information indicating Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports. "We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks," he said. Hodge said Russia had announced that all ships proceeding to Ukrainian ports in Black Sea waters would be considered potential carriers of military cargo and said U.S. information indicated Russia had laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports. Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of damaging grain export infrastructure in "hellish" overnight strikes focused on two of its Black Sea ports, vowing not to be intimidated from working to keep grain exports moving out of them.

Persons: Adam Hodge, Hodge, Steve Holland, Sandra Maler Organizations: White, National Security Council, Russia, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Odesa

☆ Biden re-election campaign HQ will be based in Delaware
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will literally keep his re-election campaign headquarters close to home - Wilmington, Delaware, that is. Biden's 2024 campaign team announced on Tuesday that the campaign apparatus will be headquartered in Wilmington, the Delaware city where the president has lived for decades. "My family's values, my eternal optimism and my unwavering belief in the American middle class as our nation's backbone comes from my home – from Delaware," Biden said in a statement. "That's why there is no better place for our re-election campaign to have its headquarters." Biden, as a U.S. senator representing Delaware, frequently took the Amtrak train back home for weekends, earning the nickname "Amtrak Joe."

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Steve Holland, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Amtrak, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Wilmington , Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware, U.S, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania

[1/2] The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. Officials from the United States and South Korea are meeting on Tuesday in Seoul for the first Nuclear Consultative Group discussion, aimed at better coordinating allied nuclear response in the event of a war with North Korea. China and North Korea have criticised the group's formation as further raising tensions on the Korean peninsula. When asked whether South Korea will have a role in U.S. nuclear war planning, a senior U.S. administration official told Reuters the group was more about sharing information. "We will discuss information sharing, consultation system, steps for joint planning and implementation to strengthen nuclear deterrence against North Korea," Yoon's spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, told reporters on Monday.

Persons: Ken Scar, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Kim Tae, Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, Lee, woon, General John Weidner, Josh Smith, Steve Holland, David Brunnstrom, hyang Choi, Ed Davies, Stephen Coates Organizations: . Army, REUTERS, Nuclear, Monday, South, Reuters, South Korea's, . National Security, Pacific Affairs, . U.S, U.S . Forces, Thomson Locations: Yongin, South Korea, SEOUL, United States, North Korea, Seoul, Korea, U.S, Washington, China, ., U.S . Forces Korea, Lincoln

Herzog, who as head of state plays a largely ceremonial role, begins his two-day Washington visit on Tuesday when he meets U.S. President Joe Biden before addressing a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. Herzog will also meet Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, a senior administration official said. Biden and Herzog last met at the White House in October. On Monday, Biden invited Netanyahu to the United States for an official visit later this year. SPEECH BOYCOTTSIn Congress, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar said on Twitter "there is no way in hell" she would be at Wednesday's speech.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Herzog, Netanyahu's, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Netanyahu, Ilhan Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Omar, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Narendra Modi's, Barack Obama's, Primila Jayapal, Israel, Jayapal, Patricia Zengerle, Steve Holland, Richard Cowan, David Morgan, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: Democratic, West Bank, White, Twitter, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Senate, Democratic House, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Iran, United States, Israel, Barack Obama's Iran

☆ Israeli official says Biden invited Netanyahu to White House in September
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Palmachim Air Force Base near the city of Rishon Lezion, Israel July 5, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File PhotoJERUSALEM, July 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet at the White House in September, Israel's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said on Tuesday, though the White House has yet to confirm the details. Hanegbi told N12 News that in their phone call on Monday, "The president of the United States told the prime minister, contrary to reports which I saw here too, that he is inviting him to the White House in Washington for a meeting in September." In response to a Reuters query about Hanegbi's remarks, a White House official said the two leaders have agreed to meet but did not specify where. Reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem and Steve Holland in Washington Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Joe Biden, Tzachi Hanegbi, Hanegbi, Netanyahu, Maayan Lubell, Steve Holland, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Palmachim Air Force Base, REUTERS, White House, White, N12, United, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Rishon Lezion, Israel, United States, Washington, Jerusalem

☆ White House blasts RFK Jr for 'antisemitic conspiracy theories'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre joined a chorus of Democratic outrage at the comments from the 69-year-old son of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a member of the Kennedy political dynasty who was assassinated while running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024, putting him directly in competition with Biden, who is seeking a second four-year term. Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. waves to the audience after delivering a foreign policy speech at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S., June 20, 2023. Every aspect of these comments reflect some of the most abhorrent antisemitic conspiracy theories throughout history and contributes to today's dangerous rise of antisemitism," Jean-Pierre said. The New York Post on Saturday published a video that appeared to show Kennedy speaking at a dinner in Manhattan.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Karine Jean, Pierre, Kennedy, Biden, Brian Snyder, COVID, Jean, Pierre said, Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Deepa Babington Organizations: Democratic, Anselm College, REUTERS, The New York, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Manchester , New Hampshire, U.S, Manhattan

☆ Biden: US will defend every inch of NATO territory including Finland
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HELSINKI, July 13 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Thursday called the U.S.-Nordic summit "very productive" and vowed to protect every inch of NATO territory including Finland. "The United States is committed to Finland, committed to NATO, and those commitments are rock solid," Biden said. Reporting by Steve Holland and Essi Lehto in HelsinkiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Steve Holland, Essi Organizations: NATO, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, U.S, Finland, United States, Helsinki

HELSINKI, July 13 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden said on Thursday he expects Republicans to stand up against what he called Senator Tommy Tuberville's "ridiculous" block of top U.S. military appointments over the Pentagon's abortion policy. It was bizarre and irresponsible to inject a domestic social debate into fundamental foreign policy, Biden said in Helsinki after meeting with Nordic country leaders. I expect the Republican Party to stand up, stand up and do something about it," Biden told reporters. "I'm confident that the mainstream Republican Party no longer, does not support what he's doing, but they've got to stand up and be counted. Biden said he would be willing to talk to Tuberville if there were any possibility of changing the senator's "ridiculous position."

Persons: Joe Biden, Tommy Tuberville's, Biden, they've, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Tuberville, Biden's, Charles, CQ, Brown, David Berger, Doina Chiacu, Steve Holland, Patricia Zengerle, Frances Kerry Organizations: Pentagon, Defense Department, Republican Party, CNN, Austin, Armed Forces, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Armed Services Committee, Marine Corps, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, Helsinki, Alabama, Washington

"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

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

Zelenskiy said: "Today there are security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO...that shall be further extended through arrangements with our key partners. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the G7 move misguided and "potentially very dangerous" for the West to give Ukraine security guarantees, which it said would infringe on Russia's own security. The declaration said the G7 nations would begin bilateral talks with Ukraine immediately. "We will work with Ukraine on an enhanced package of security commitments and arrangements in case of future aggression to enable Ukraine to defend its territory and sovereignty," the G7 said. Germany has already said that it would initially provide 12 billion euros in military support for Ukraine through 2032, including 3.2 billion euros for 2023.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Joe Biden, Zelenskiy, Dmitry Peskov, Ben Wallace, Andrew Gray, Steve Holland, Sabine Siebold, Alex Richardson, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: NATO, REUTERS, Kremlin, Wednesday, Ukraine, Soviet Union, European Union, White, U.S, Kyiv, Israel, British, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania, VILNIUS, Russia, Moscow, Britain, France, Germany, United States, Soviet, Japan, Canada, Italy, Washington, Israel, Kyiv

☆ 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

☆ U.S. says to move forward with transfer of F-16 jets to Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

VILNIUS, July 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will move forward with the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in consultation with Congress, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday. Speaking ahead of a summit of NATO leaders due to start later in the day in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, Sullivan said President Joe Biden "had been clear that he supports the transfer". He intends to move forward with that transfer," he said. Late on Monday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed to forward to parliament Sweden's bid to become a member of the NATO military alliance, following months of pressure by the United States and its allies. Reporting by Steve Holland, Justyna Pawlak; editing by John IrishOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Tayyip Erdogan, Sweden's, Steve Holland, Justyna, John Irish Organizations: U.S . National, NATO, Lockheed Martin Corp, Thomson Locations: VILNIUS, Turkey, U.S, Lithuanian, Vilnius, United States, Washington

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