Politics & Economics

  Germany will announce new support packages for Ukraine during the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. The relevant statement was made by German Federal Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to CNN. During a joint press conference with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in Berlin, Pistorius mentioned that the preliminary work is “practically completed”. Pistorius added that he expects the NATO Summit to be “very united” and that it “must be, in light of the current situation”. A reminder that the NATO Summit will take place in Vilnius on July 11-12, 2023. During the Summit,…

Following intensive negotiations, NATO allies have reached a consensus on removing a Membership Action Plan (MAP) from Ukraine's path to membership. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reported this on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. "Following intensive talks, NATO allies have reached consensus on removing MAP from Ukraine's path to membership. I welcome this long-awaited decision that shortens our path to NATO. It is also the best moment to offer clarity on the invitation to Ukraine to become member," he wrote. The NATO summit will be held in Vilnius on July 11-12. The Membership Action Plan (MAP) is a NATO program of…

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius. He announced this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "I had a productive call with Antony Blinken ahead of Vilnius. With 48 hours left, we are working to make its final decisions a win for all: Ukraine, NATO, and global security," Kuleba wrote. Read also: We have to lay out path for Ukraine to be able to qualify for NATO membership - Biden The minister also thanked the U.S. for another ground-breaking defense package, which includes much-needed ammunition. The…

  Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk has arrived in Latvia to reach an international consensus on Ukraine’s accession to NATO on the eve of the Alliance’s Summit in Vilnius. The relevant statement was made by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “Latvia. On a working visit to Riga these days. I am glad to meet with Ukraine’s loyal friend, Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Edvards Smiltēns,” Stefanchuk wrote. In his words, there is no such area in which Latvia would not help Ukraine.…

At a meeting in Lutsk, the Presidents of Ukraine and Poland, Volodymyr Zelensky and Andrzej Duda, discussed the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius. The head of the Ukrainian state posted this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. During the events in Lutsk, Andrzej Duda and I had a brief but very substantive discussion about the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius,” he wrote. Read also: Zelensky holds meeting in Lutsk to discuss situation on border with Belarus According to Zelensky, they agreed to work together to get the best possible result for Ukraine As reported by Ukrinform, Zelensky and Duda in Lutsk commemorated…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda have met in Lutsk. That's according to Ukraine's public broadcaster Suspilne, Ukrinform reports. "The Ukrainian and Polish presidents arrived on a visit to Lutsk on July 9. Volodymyr Zelensky and Andrzej Duda visited the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral," the report reads. The visit of the two leaders to Lutsk was not announced in advance. Photo: Suspilne Lutsk

The declaration between Ukraine and Portugal has become the 23rd document formalizing support for Ukraine's membership in NATO. Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Portugal adds to the list of countries with which we have already formalized support for Ukraine's membership in the Alliance: as of today, these are 23 countries or approximately three-quarters of the number of members," Zhovkva said.Read also: Ukraine's president, Portugal's PM discuss preparations for NATO summit According to him, the document states, in particular, that Portugal strongly supports Ukraine in starting EU accession…

British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has said on day 500 of the Russian invasion that London will support Ukraine's struggle for as long as it takes. She reported this on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. "Today marks 500 days since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Unbroken, unbowed, unyielding — Ukraine will recover its territories & prosper into a powerful European democracy," she said. According to Simmons, the United Kingdom will support Ukraine's fight for as long as it takes to defend the lives of Ukrainians and common values. All ambassadors of the G7 countries also expressed their support for Ukraine.…

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support early Saturday for Ukraine joining NATO, saying the war-torn country deserves to join the alliance. Erdogan made the comment at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in Turkey as part of a European tour to rally support for Ukraine's entry into the military alliance after the war with Russia comes to an end. NATO leaders meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, next week are expected to reaffirm that Ukraine will join their alliance one day. "There is no doubt that Ukraine deserves NATO membership," Erdogan told reporters, His…

The Czech Republic is interested in Ukraine joining NATO after the war. The relevant statement was made by President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel during a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, following their meeting in Prague on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “After the end of the war, Ukraine will join NATO. It is in our interests,” Pavel said. However, the former NATO general mentioned that membership in the Alliance, same as in the EU, is not automatic. In this regard, it is necessary to carry out reforms and meet the criteria. A reminder that,…