Zelenskyy and Duda meet in Lutsk, Biden says Ukraine is not ready to join NATO: highlights of July 9

Zelenskyy's visit to Lutsk

The Presidents of Ukraine and Poland, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Andrzej Duda, made an unexpected visit to Lutsk, where they honored the victims of the Volyn tragedy at the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul.

“Together we honor all the innocent victims of Volyn! Memory unites us! We are stronger together!” Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote.

Later, the Head of State held a coordination meeting on the socio-economic and security situation in Volyn Oblast at Lubart's castle.

The United States and Germany oppose Ukraine's accession to NATO

U.S. President Joe Biden believes that Ukraine is not yet ready to become a NATO member and that its membership in the Alliance should be considered after the war is over.

According to the US president, Ukraine should become more democratic and fulfill several other requirements before joining the Alliance. In the meantime, he believes it is too early to call for a vote on Ukraine's membership.

He also emphasized that the United States and its allies would continue to support Ukraine, including with weapons.

At the same time, Germany plans to insist on postponing Ukraine's accession to the Alliance at the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 10-12, out of concern that such a move could lead to a war with Russia. A source told The Telegraph.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Olha Stefanishyna noted that Ukraine will have to revise its strategy if the country does not receive an invitation to join NATO at the Vilnius summit on July 11-12.

Situation at the frontline

Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar said that hot fighting continues in all areas of the Russian offensive - Avdiivka, Marinka, Kupiansk, and Lyman. No change in the situation.

At the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, Ukrainian troops are consolidating their positions, conducting aerial reconnaissance, demining the area, and delivering artillery fire at enemy targets.

Defense forces are ready to continue offensive operations.

Ukrainian reconnaissance station

Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov showed innovative electronic reconnaissance stations RPS-7 Inhul, which are currently being tested.

“The station is currently being tested before it can be officially supplied to the Ukrainian Army. Thank you to the designers, sponsors, and businesses who helped make this project a reality,” the minister added.

Other news for the day:

• On the afternoon of July 9, Russian occupation forces attacked a residential area in Kherson, injuring one local resident. In the evening, the occupiers shelled the town of Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, and the director of the hospital was injured.
• Contamination with an unknown substance was found in the Psel River in Poltava Oblast. Preliminary, from a landfill.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the August BRICS summit will be held in person. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to attend.
• A fire broke out at a gas station in Kyiv. A 21-year-old driver lost control and crashed into a fuel dispenser. Three people were reported injured.
• The BBC finds that some Twitter accounts with paid subscriptions that give users more functionality are fueling disinformation about Russia's war in Ukraine.