2023-07-11 18:00:10
Time.news – The President of the United States, Joe Biden is in favor of the sale at the Türkiye of F-16 fighters of US production without “limits or conditions”. This was announced by the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, before the summit of the Atlantic Alliance underway in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Biden has been “clear and unequivocal” in his support for the choice, he said – according to CNN reports – “and intends to move forward with that delivery in consultation with Congress”.
In an interview with CNN before the summit, Biden reiterated his support for the sale of F-16s to Ankara, but hinted that it was part of a broader package of decisions to strengthen the military capacity of the Alliance.
Ok easy accession for Kiev but under certain conditions
Facilitate Ukraine’s entry into NATO, by not requiring the Membership Action Plan (Map), normally expected for would-be members of the Atlantic Alliance, but at the same time ask Kiev that some conditions are met: this is what the leaders of NATO member countries are talking about, behind closed doors, at the summit underway in Vilnius. This is what the Time.news learns.
The same sources confirm what the US president, Joe Biden has already said: a country at war cannot join the Alliance. Ukraine must therefore first win the conflict. In the final communiqué of the summit, support for Kiev will therefore be reaffirmed and this openness for facilitated membership should appear, albeit in compliance with certain requirements.
Stoltenberg replies: “Calendars have never been made for membership”
“A timetable has never been decided for any path to joining the Alliance, it is a process based on conditionality“. NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg declared this at a press conference at the Vilnius summit. “In our communiqué we sent a substantial message of practical and political support that brings Ukraine closer to NATO”, he explained in response to a question on the criticisms of the Ukrainian president, Volodmyr Zelensky, on the absence in the conclusions of a timetable for Kiev’s accession to NATO.
Macron promises long-range Scalp missiles to Kiev
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised Ukraine Scalp long-range missiles. He announced this upon his arrival in Lithuania. “We have decided to deliver new missiles to Ukraine that will allow it to strike in depth”, Macron said, underlining the importance of “sending a message of support to Ukraine and NATO unity”.
© JACK GUEZ / AFP
Missile scalp
“France – Macron recalled – contributes a lot to strengthening NATO on the eastern front and in the light of the counter-offensive launched by Ukraine, I have taken the decision to increase supplies of arms and material and to allow Ukraine to have firepower We have therefore decided to deliver new missiles” to Kiev.
NATO: “Accelerate the accession of Ukraine”
In an armored Vilnius, since late yesterday afternoon the leaders of the 31 member countries of the Atlantic Alliance arrived in small numbers in the Lithuanian capital, which is located just 32 kilometers from the border with Belarus, the only official ally of Moscow in the war in Ukraine.
From the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, to the US President, Joe Biden, passing through the Turkish head of state, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has given the green light to Sweden’s accession, as announced by the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg . The summit will focus on military support for Ukraine, which Italy provides “at 360 degrees”, Meloni reiterated during his visit to Riga.
© CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / POOL / AFP
Stoltenberg e Erdogan
The summit has thegoal of bringing Kiev closer to NATO, even though Biden has clearly warned that his entry into the Alliance will not be seen before the end of the war. In any case, Italy is in favor of simplifying the procedures for Ukraine’s accession, in line with the support already assured.
Born: Zelensky, “absurd that no date is given for the entry of Kiev
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskysaid it is “absurd” That the Atlantic Alliance, at the Vilnius summit, will not give a precise date neither for the invitation to his country to join nor for membership itself; and you assured that you had “signals”, from conversations with partners before the summit, according to which only the conditions for inviting Ukraine into NATO will be indicated.
“The formula refers only to the invitation and not to Ukraine’s membership,” Zelensky said of the content of the final statement that the allies would negotiate. “It is unprecedented and absurd: there is no timetable for either the invitation or for the accession of Ukraine; and in return some strange wording is added on ‘conditions’, even for inviting Ukraine”.
“Ukraine will be present in Vilnius, at the NATO summit because it is a form of respect. But Ukraine also deserves respect”. Zelensky spoke about it on Telegram as he was about to leave Kiev for Vilnius.
Türkiye, the ratification of Sweden’s entry within the next week
With the new agreement reached by Sweden and Turkey and which has convinced Ankara to give the go-ahead for Stockholm’s entry into NATO, the protocol for ratifying Sweden’s entry will be submitted to the Turkish Parliament ‘in a short time’. And, according to some Turkish sources, ratification could arrive by the end of next week.
Stockholm: decisive step, we will bring a lot to the Alliance
In Vilnius “decisive steps have been taken for long-term security”, commented the Swedish premier, Ulf Kristersson. “We have reached agreement on a joint declaration”, he added, expressing satisfaction with the “big step forward” taken by Stockholm towards NATO membership. After years of “non-alignment” within the Alliance, he noted, “we are here, in Vilnius, to define a long-term path”. “Sweden – he said – has a lot to bring to the Allied table”.
Kremlin, Sweden’s entry into NATO is negative for Russia’s security
Sweden’s entry into NATO will be “negative” for Russia’s security, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov warned, according to whom NATO in Vilnius has taken on “a strongly anti-Russian character”. Russia, he added, “is closely monitoring the summit”.
Kremlin: France’s long-range missiles require countermeasures
Paris’s decision to transfer long-range missiles to Kiev is fraught with consequences for Ukraine, forcing Moscow to take countermeasures,” Peskov assured
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