Ukraine's “irreversible path to NATO membership” and defense assistance from partners: highlights for July 11
NATO countries stated that Ukraine is on an “irreversible path” to membership and decided to support Kyiv. A number of partners announced defense packages for the Ukrainian army. Ukraine and Romania signed a security agreement. We have collected the main news for July 11.
Results of the NATO summit for Ukraine
In the joint declaration following the summit, it was determined that Ukraine is on an “irreversible path” to membership in the Alliance. The document states that “Ukraine's future is in NATO”.
In addition, the allies pledged to provide long-term security assistance to Ukraine. To do this, they must make proportional contributions to finance Ukraine through 2025, totaling 40 billion euros.
NATO also recognized China as a “decisive factor” contributing to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Security agreement with Romania
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his Romanian counterpart Klaus Iohannis signed a bilateral agreement on security cooperation.
In particular, in the document, Bucharest pledged to continue multidimensional support for Ukraine with the same dynamics as in 2022-2024, as well as to deliver the promised Patriot air defense system.
Defense assistance from allies
The United States announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth $225 million, including a Patriot battery; NASAMS air defense missile system shells; and 155 mm artillery shells.
Norway will allocate more than $92 million to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, the Netherlands will provide €20 million for one million FPV drones for Ukraine, and Canada will provide CAD 500 million.
In addition, Australia has promised to provide Ukraine with its largest defense package since the beginning of the great war - $250 million, and Denmark will finance the production of Ukrainian Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems.
Plan to assassinate Rheinmetall CEO
The United States and Germany have thwarted a Russian plot to assassinate the CEO of Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer that produces products for Ukraine, including artillery shells and military vehicles.
The plot to kill Armin Papperger was part of a series of assassinations of defense industry executives across Europe who supported Ukraine's war effort, CNN has learned.
Russian pilot handed over classified documents to the GUR after the shelling of Okhmatdyt
After the shelling of Okhmatdyt, one of the pilots of the 22nd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division contacted the Ukrainian intelligence chatbot and handed over secret documents about the activities of his military unit, as well as private photos of its command staff.
Russia refuses to participate in the second peace summit
Bloomberg wrote that Ukraine wants to hold a second Peace Summit before the US presidential election, but this time with the participation of Russia.
However, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia has no plans to participate in the second Peace Summit organized by Ukraine.
Orban to meet with Trump
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet with US presidential candidate Donald Trump after the NATO summit.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that Trump's re-election would give a chance for a peaceful settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Other important news
- Ukraine rejected Swedish Gripen jets on its own, Swedish Foreign Minister said.
- Several thousand people have already joined the Ukrainian Legion in Poland, the country's Foreign Minister said.
- “I continue to serve Ukraine”: Zaluzhnyi confirms that he has begun acting as ambassador to the UK.
- State Energy Supervision to check fair distribution of electricity in the regions.
- SBU detains ship captain who helped Russians smuggle Ukrainian grain out of Crimea.