Some Russian bloggers have been openly criticizing Moscow's military leadership, while anti-war protesters face severe penalties. But I cant predict exactly how that happens.. A deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to enable Ukrainian grain and other farm goods to ship safely from Black Sea ports is due to expire next week, July 17. Russian propaganda spread on fake news sites. "2. This time the enemy used drones. "In terms of Ukraine itself, President Biden, the Germans, and others, the French, are not willing to give Ukraine membership right now," Ariel Cohen, a senior fellow at theAtlantic Council'sEurasia Center, told CNBC. At the same time, the trip unveiled fresh tensions as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted NATO leaders for failing to offer his country a clear pathway for joining the alliance. Photos and videos of foreign volunteers fighting alongside Ukrainians were often used as evidence. Mindaugas Kulbis/AP Air alerts sounded across the country. Valtonen called it more of a sort of family gathering rather than rigid negotiations, because there are so many things that we agree on, citing security, technology and the environment as examples. "Ukraine is much closer to NATO, so I think the time has come to reflect that in also the NATO decisions. Bidens 21 hours in Helsinki capped an eventful three-country excursion in which he sought to rally global partners around a joint commitment to support Ukraine against Russia and bolster NATO, while also making a case for his broader foreign policy approach ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The security situation in eastern Europe and particularly the Baltics has deteriorated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but even more so of late, the leader of Lithuania said. Kyivs military allies have yet to agree on the actual provision of the advanced warplanes to Ukraine. "We were struck by the speed that both Finland and Sweden renounced their neutral status, renounced the advantages that this neutral status provided them for many decades, provided them with relatively independent role, provided them with a reputation and authority both in Europe and on the international stage," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow during a press conference with visiting Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. Nordic states in NATO are a threat to no one and have united behind the alliance for common defense and deterrence purposes, Norway's prime minister told CNBC. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gestures as he holds a press conference during a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuanian July 11, 2023. I believe that we will be in NATO as soon as the security situation is stabilized, he said. Mr. Biden knew those comparisons would have a particular resonance in this graceful Baltic capital: Lithuania was part of the Russian empire starting in 1795, and after two decades of independence, it was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, seized by Nazi Germany in 1941 and recaptured by the Soviets in 1944. On Thursday, he repeated his now-familiar formulation that Putin had hoped for the Finlandization of NATO, but instead he got the NATO-ization of Finland. (Finlandization refers to a country being under the sway of a more powerful neighbor, as Finland was during the Soviet era.). Five Paths To War Between The U.S. And Russia - Forbes No hits were recorded. Taking the course of escalation, they issued a new batch of promises to supply the Kyiv regime with more and more modern and long-range weapons in order to prolong the conflict as long as possible to exhaustion, the ministry said. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference ahead of a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday. Russia's Putin issues new nuclear warnings to West over Ukraine Russia's war in Ukraine will top the agenda when NATO leaders meet in . While many Republican leaders strongly back continued aid to Ukraine, signs of discontent have emerged from some quarters of the party. The strikes came just ahead of a key NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania on Tuesday during which the alliance is set to establish a new defense strategy and usher in a new member, Sweden. Biden's top diplomat spoke with Democratic SenatorBob MenendezofNew Jersey, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, among others according to the official. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attended the summit, was offered long-term security promises, but he was not given a concrete timeline for NATO membership, which he had lobbied for strenuously. Lavrov's comments follow NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's announcement that Sweden would become the 32nd member to join the military alliance. Russia-Ukraine War - The New York Times You have to wait for this moment and then we have to do it quickly, of course. So far, the U.S. government has not indicated its willing to provide Leopards or any other tanks to Ukraine, having already escalated its support earlier this month with new troop transport vehicles armed with weapons that make them veritable tank-killers.. "We will issue an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO when allies agree and conditions are met," he said according to NBC News. F-16 fighter jets can potentially carry nuclear weapons, Lavrov said. EU summit with Latin America: What's at stake? Hes already lost that war.. So the probability of this conflict in my estimation is high.". Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. CNN The West's decision to finally send tanks to Ukraine has caused some to ask the uncomfortable question: Does this mean that NATO is now in direct conflict with Russia? When we talk about what is happening in Ukraine, we are talking about the fact that this is no longer a hybrid war but a real one, which the West has been preparing for a long time against Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to South Africa, historically an ally of the Soviet Union and a contemporary Russian economic partner. Both Ukraine and Russia have been using cluster munitions, which are banned by over 120 countries because of their immediate and longer-term danger to civilians. NATO - Topic: NATO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine Maximilian Clarke | SOPA Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images. Meanwhile, Kyiv has come under Russian attack for the second time this month, while Ukraine's military says Russian forces have carried out 334 airstrikes on the wider country in the last week. The speech, at Vilnius University, came after a series of important victories for Mr. Biden as NATOs de facto leader, at a time of rapid change for the alliance. "That is, I am not saying that it will definitely happen. Putin Tells Russia: 'Sanctions War Was Declared on Us' - Voice of America The Kremlin cited national security risks from Kyiv's ambitions to enter the NATO alliance, before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. No ships have left Ukrainian ports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in the last three days as the landmark agreement faces expiry, according to the U.N.-backed organization tracking export data. The Russian flag flies on the dome of the Kremlin Senate building behind Spasskaya Tower, while the roof shows what appears to be marks from the recent drone incident, in central Moscow, Russia, May 4, 2023. He is visiting the. Allies have to be concerned about the reliability of the United States over the long term, Goldgeier said. By Bo Erickson. Kyrylo Barashkov, 43-year-old immigration lawyer, kindles a fire in his bunker in Kriukivschina, a small town near Kyiv on July 10, 2023. DW asked experts how the propaganda machine works. "When we applied for membership of NATO, we spoke frankly: de facto, Ukraine is already in the alliance," he said. Fake news sites showing well-known media brand names are acting as vehicles for Russian propaganda, among other things. It is a Catch-22 for the alliance, and thats why this could have been, and the next summit can be, the opportunity to make it clear that Ukraine is invited, William B. Taylor Jr., former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine under the Bush and Obama administrations, said in an interview. President Biden concluded a meeting of NATO allies on Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania, with an address to that country, and the world, comparing the battle to expel Russia from . Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council, warned on Tuesday that assistance for Ukraine from NATO members brought the threat of a third global conflict closer. Biden said he could absolutely guarantee you that the United States will continue to back NATO. Major General Pekka Toveri, a Finnish former intelligence chief, ridiculed the suggestion in a tweet. Ukraine pounded by missiles, Russia eyes capturing Bakhmut by April Kaja Kallas, PM of Estonia, speaks to CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images, Estonia PM says she 'understands' Zelenskyy frustration on NATO, Baltic Sea will essentially now become a NATO sea: Latvia PM. ", Asked by CNBC's Steve Sedgwick to clarify whether Germany wants to see Ukraine as a NATO member, Pistorius replied, "We always emphasize that It is my point of view, yes.". "Tonight, our region suffered another attack by the Russians. On Monday, Turkey finally endorsed Sweden's membership bid. Attacks inside Russia continue as NATO head declares "Ukraine will It remains unclear what role Wagner could play in the war in Ukraine. A video with a BBC news logoclaimed that a Polish military general had signed an order to put army detachments on "full alert." Russia-Ukraine war updates for July 11, 2023 - CNBC In response to a question, Biden said he did not believe the war would drag on for years, saying he hoped that a combination of Ukraines current military counteroffensive and Russias increasingly depleted resources would force Moscow to the negotiating table. The Group of Seven (G7) Coalition and #NATO signed agreements to offer #Ukraine long-term security commitments during the second day of the #NATOSummit on July 12. [Follow the latest updates here. He's getting more NATO," Stoltenberg said ahead of the start of the U.S.-led coalition's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. "[Putin] went to war because he wanted less NATO. The full written declaration can be found here. This follows the recent development of Turkey agreeing to admit Sweden into the alliance, after more than a year of opposition. David Sanger, a former longtime foreign correspondent, has covered summits with five American presidents. ], Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lashed out at NATOTuesdayfor its lack of a timeline giving specific details forhis country's futureNATO membership, calling it "unprecedented and absurd. Russia's current account surplus the level at which a country has more exports than imports tanked 85% to $20.2 billion in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, the country's central bank said. Biden Braces NATO for Long Conflict With Russia, Making Cold War The support of Ukraine by its Western partners through financial aid, arms supplies and sanctions has also been used to back Putin's primary claimthat Ukraine is "fully under external control" and is "strengthened by armed forces of NATO countries and pumped up with the most modern weapons.". Turkey relieved NATO allies this week, as it lifted its 14-month long opposition to Sweden joining the alliance, enabling the expansion of the defense organization that Russia says is a root cause of its invasion of Ukraine. Biden has repeatedly cited Finlands decision to join NATO as evidence that Putin strengthened the Western alliance by invading Ukraine last year. NATO nations also committed to funneling hundreds of millions of dollars in new aid to Ukraine, just days after Mr. Biden made a reluctant decision to give cluster munitions sought by Ukraine. Russia Says NATO Nations Could Be 'Legitimate Military Targets' - Newsweek I think thats an important message for our allies to hear.. Helsinki, Finland President Biden on Thursday declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has already lost the war" in Ukraine. "This is an historic step which makes all NATO allies stronger and safer," Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter. The Finnish government has likewise indicated it would contribute to helping operate and to maintaining the tanks and perhaps even supply its own, depending on Germanys decision. Indeed, more vital to our shared future, he said. Russia is now fighting NATO in Ukraine, top Putin ally says Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia August 5, 2022. In the battle for influence running parallel to Russia's war on Ukraine, the Kremlin has consistently taken aim at NATO. In a whirlwind of travel and meetings that began in London and included a two-day stop at a NATO summit in Lithuania, Biden made the case for multilateralism and global cooperation, notching victories as Turkey ended its blockade on Swedens NATO bid and G-7 nations joined to offer Ukraine a set of long-term security guarantees. It is also true that NATO has made logistical preparations in its Eastern European member states, in addition to preparing airfields for the rapid reinforcement of troops. President Joe Biden held a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan while the two attend the NATO leaders summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. But on Wednesday, he thanked the United States profusely for its backing, saying in a meeting with Mr. Biden, you spend this money for our lives.. The NATO chief stressed that Ukraine would receive a "strong, positive message on the path forward" regarding its membership. Yet the venue of the presidents events Thursday itself offered a stark reminder of how unpredictable American foreign policy can be in the current era. Kay Nietfeld | Picture Alliance | Getty Images, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (C) addresses the crowd next to his wife Olena Zelenska (L) and Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda at Lukiskiu Square in Vilnius on July 11, 2023, during a NATO Summit. Week in Ukraine: NATO meets as Russia's war blows past 500 days Heavy monsoon rains cause havoc in South Korea, Halftime review for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Turkey and the Gulf states: A complicated relationship, Tourists flock to Death Valley to experience heat record, US-funded bioweapons laboratories in Ukraine, foreign volunteers fighting alongside Ukrainians. And Mr. Biden said the world would need to address the accelerating threat of climate change, another key focus of the NATO summit. [They say] 'look, Europe is already prepared to fight us',"he said. The USA and its NATO satellites are creating the risk of a direct military confrontation with Russia and this can have catastrophic consequences, Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian online newspaper Lenta.ru. Russia must prepare for war with NATO in 2023, state TV guest says Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters are seen next to one of the towers of Moscow's Kremlin, in Russia, March 15, 2023. April 4, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news - CNN The president will need bipartisan congressional approval to make good on his pledge to ink a new bilateral security pact with Ukraine, a potential multibillion-dollar request at a time when some Republicans in Congress have grown weary of the amount of U.S. aid flowing to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an official visit in Sofia, Bulgaria, on July 6, 2023. One thing Zelensky understands, whether or not he is in NATO now is not relevant because of the commitments made by the alliance, Mr. Biden told reporters as he was about to depart for Finland, NATOs newest member. We cannot slow-walk the weapons in, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABCs This Week on Sunday. The decision not to invite Ukraine to join NATO yet prompted some concern that it could prolong the war, because Mr. Putin knows that Kyiv might quickly join the alliance once the fighting ends. During a 2018 news conference in the same presidential palace where Biden took questions Thursday, Trump stood next to Putin and appeared to side with the Russian leader over his own intelligence community when asked about reports that Moscow had interfered in the 2016 election. Such arguments have been a recurring theme of the war, with Mr. Biden at first refusing certain weapons for fear of how the Kremlin whose officials have repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons might respond, and eventually agreeing to send them: HIMARS rocket artillery, Patriot air defense systems, tanks and more. You can read past recaps here. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the respective Trump and Biden visits showcase the volatility of global politics and the need for Europe to boost its own defenses rather than relying on the United States. Though NATO has not given a timetable for Ukraine to join, Mr. Zelensky, in a statement, showed no such hesitation. Even before the announcement, videos purporting to show the delivery of German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine were circulating online. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Russian war bloggers: Pawns in a political game? In simple terms, the moment the war is over.. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images). Lavrovs comments came hours after indications that several NATO countries, including Poland, appeared to have cleared diplomatic hurdles and would provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine a development U.S. officials would represent a game-changing boon for Ukraine to build on its latest offensives against the numerically superior Russian army. NATO is stronger, more energised and yes, more united than ever in its history. So we have to be aware that we have to take the decisions to strengthen all of the eastern flank," he said. Peskov told a press briefing that NATO's eastward expansion in Europe was what fomented the war in Ukraine to begin with. Zelenskyy will be attending the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the group's secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said earlier in the day.