VILNIUS.
The G7 countries pledged yesterday in Vilnius, Lithuania, to provide Ukraine with long-term military support to defeat Russia, a day after NATO dispelled Ukraine’s illusion of quickly joining the transatlantic military alliance.
The seven most advanced economies announced that they will work with Ukraine “on specific, bilateral and long-term security agreements and commitments to (…) ensure a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future.”
Eight other nations joined, with different proposals, the “security guarantees” for Ukraine.
This includes “security assistance and modern military equipment, in land, air and maritime domains, prioritizing air defense, artillery and long-range devices, armored vehicles and other key capabilities”, indicated the members of the G7 (USA, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski, who was at the closing ceremony of the summit, celebrated a “great security victory” for his country, although he made it clear that “the best guarantee for Ukraine is to be part of NATO.”
highlights unity
US President Joe Biden accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of having a “cowardly lust for land and power” and vowed that NATO would not leave Ukraine alone.
In his speech at the end of the two-day NATO summit, Biden highlighted the strength of the military alliance.
“NATO is stronger, more dynamic and, yes, more united than ever in its history. In fact, it is more vital to our common future. It has not happened by accident. It was not inevitable,” he said.
The G7 also expressed its commitment to hold Russia criminally accountable for atrocities committed since the start of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“There must be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities. In this context, we reiterate our commitment to hold those responsible accountable, in accordance with international law,” they warned.
“They return to Cold War schemes”
MOSCOW.— The NATO summit demonstrated that the Western alliance is returning to “Cold War schemes,” the Russian Foreign Ministry declared yesterday, and affirmed that the Kremlin is prepared to respond to threats using all means necessary.
“The results of the Vilnius summit will be carefully scrutinized. Taking into account the challenges and threats to the security and interests of Russia that have been identified, we will respond in a timely and appropriate manner, using all means and methods at our disposal,” the ministry said in a statement.
“In addition to the decisions already adopted, we will continue to strengthen the country’s military organization and defense system,” he added.
For his part, Dmitri Medvedev, deputy secretary of the Security Council and former Russian president, declared that the increase in military aid to Ukraine by NATO brings the Third World War closer.
“The West, completely crazy, couldn’t think of anything else… World War 3 is getting closer,” he wrote on Telegram.
—Reuters
Will ratify in October endorsement on Sweden
ANKARA.— The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, assured yesterday that the ratification of Turkey’s accession will go to the Turkish Parliament in October, because in that month it resumes its activity after the summer recess.
“Parliament is currently closed and it will deal with the matter when it resumes its sessions in October,” the Turkish president said at a press conference after the NATO summit in Lithuania.
He assured that Turkish legislators will closely follow the process with Sweden, after Ankara lifted its veto on the eve of the Vilnius summit, agreeing on new cooperation mechanisms with Stockholm on security matters and the commitment that Sweden will support the reactivation of Turkish accession to the European Union.
“There are several international agreements and many legislative proposals that need to be discussed. We address them in order of importance. But our goal is to finish this process as soon as possible,” Erdogan explained about the prospect of Sweden becoming NATO’s 32nd ally.
APD
Bombing in kyiv leaves one dead
KIEV.— An aerial bombardment on kyiv yesterday caused at least one death and four wounded, local authorities reported, in the third consecutive night of attacks against the Ukrainian capital.
Emergency services responded to calls from the Solomyansky, Shevchenkivsky, Podilsky and Darnytsky districts after a series of “explosions in the capital,” its mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“In the Podilsky district, during work to extinguish flames in an apartment building, the body of a dead person was discovered,” Klitschko posted on Telegram.
The mayor noted that two people had to be treated for their injuries in the Shevchenkivsky district and two others were “hospitalized” by falling debris in a residential building in Darnytsky.
The head of kyiv’s military administration, Sergiy Popko, also reported two injured people in the Darnytsky district, but it was not clear if they were the same.
Klitschko noted that two buildings caught fire due to the attack in Podilsky and Shevchenkivsky.
AFP