Jul 12: Day 2 Nato Summit in Vilnius
Day 1 NATO communiqué and Coverage of today's events and statements
Day 2 NATO Summit in Vilnius
Day 1 Recap: Main points of the NATO communiqué
Russia bears full responsibility for its illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which has gravely undermined Euro-Atlantic and global security and for which it must be held fully accountable.
Russia must immediately stop this illegal war of aggression, cease its use of force against Ukraine, and completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and equipment from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders, extending to its territorial waters.
We welcome the strong support in the UN general assembly for efforts to promote a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine. We welcome and support President Zelenskyy’s commitment in setting out the principles for such a peace through his peace formula. We are committed to achieving a just and lasting peace that upholds the principles of the UN Charter.
We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine in the heroic defence of their nation, their land, and our shared values.
We fully support Ukraine’s right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine’s future is in Nato. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of Nato, and today we recognise that Ukraine’s path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path.
The security of Ukraine is of great importance to allies and the alliance. To support Ukraine’s further integration with NATO, today we have agreed a substantial package of expanded political and practical support.
The continued delivery of urgently needed non-lethal assistance to Ukraine by Nato through the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) remains a priority.
NATO Summit Day 2
Vilnius summit brings Ukraine closer to NATO, but direct invitation withheld. Jens Stoltenberg has outlined a three-part, multi year package that will bring “Ukraine closer to Nato.” The plan will establish “a new Nato-Ukraine Council, and re affirming that Ukraine will become a member of Nato and removing the requirement for the Membership Action Plans.”
Important outcome from Day 1: For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO countries gave political approval to detailed plans designed to ensure the alliance’s collective military defense against a major attack by a power like Russia.
“There was a broad consensus in the alliance that Ukraine joining NATO now would mean that NATO would go in war with Russia, and it would make no sense now. But there is a powerful signal from the alliance to bring Ukraine closer”
Jake Sullivan on the NATO-Ukraine relations.
Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine should receive an invitation to NATO when security measures allow for it. "We will also speak today and fight for this, the security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO," the president said. The summit decision does not include a list of conditions to be fulfilled by Ukraine, but a mechanism for their assessment is defined. The Annual National Program (ANP) will be a tool for monitoring the reforms implemented by Ukraine. This tool is already at the disposal of Ukraine.
“Ukraine understands that it cannot be a member of NATO while the war is going on. But clear signals that this will happen sounded confident today. I understand that this will happen when it is safe on our land," Zelenskyy said.
President Zelenskyy held a series of bilateral meetings with Nato leaders today, including president Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after they declared his country’s future lay inside the alliance but rebuffed his call for a timeline to membership. It also kicks off the NATO-Ukraine Council. Zelenskyy said that today’s priorities are:
The first is new support packages for our army on the battlefield.
The second, I believe, is an invitation to Nato. We need your understanding that we have this invitation for when the security situation allows it. We want to discuss all these things with our partners.
And thirdly, today we will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to Nato.
Dymtro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, on yesterday’s NATO communiqué:
"All of them assure me that, Dmytro, we understand your feelings, but we are convinced that there will be no repetition of Bucharest, ... this time we are determined to fulfil the promises given to you," Kuleba said.
"I say: well, that's all great, of course, but, as they say, it's not for sale. That is, you can't go out and tell people: ‘I was promised at the meeting that this time it will be different’," he said, referring to conversations held on the sidelines of the summit.
In a series of side panel discussions, audience members were invited to ask questions yesterday and today. Olena Halushka questioned German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius,
"It is impossible to convince all investors to go and put their money into the Ukrainian economy if they do not have the guarantee of sustainable peace. And inviting Ukraine into NATO would be such a guarantee. Will Germany today send the signal to their business by making the decision on making invitation of Ukraine to NATO?"
A White House official told reporters: “G7 leaders agree to enter bilateral negotiations with Ukraine to provide long term security assistance and ensure they have a capable fighting force to deter Russian aggression in the future and provide support for Ukraine’s good governance reforms and strengthen Ukraine’s economy.”
US President Joe Biden told President Zelenskyy on Wednesday that he looks forward to the day he can welcome Ukraine to Nato. Biden said:
“I promise you the US is doing everything we can to get you what you need,” Biden said in the presence of reporters.
“I look forward to the day when we’re having the meeting celebrating your official, official membership in Nato,” Biden said.
Commenting the bilateral meeting with President Biden, President Zelensky tweeted:
A very good, powerful meeting with Mr. President Biden. The meeting was at least twice as long as planned, and it was as meaningful as it needed to be. If the protocol had not stopped the meeting, we would have talked even longer. All the topics. Long-term support. Weapons. Politics. NATO. We clearly see how to end this war with our common victory. Thank you, Mr. President!
Responding to questions about the comments on Tuesday, saying it would be “absurd” if Ukraine was not given Nato membership and if this could alienate allies who spend a lot of political capital and money in order to help Ukraine, Zelensky said
“I haven’t changed my point of view. What’s most important is that we have common understanding on the conditions on when and under which conditions Ukraine would be in Nato.”
He added that maybe not all the details were communicated and he doesn’t know whether everyone is being frank with him but “[we believe] in our partners that are helping us today to win in this war.”
Zelensky was also asked about the conditions Ukraine must meet in order to join Nato and whether, apart from security-related ones which have been more clearly defined, what the conditions related to political reforms are.
We understand its all about the security [conditions].
I believe we will be in Nato when the security situation is stabilised and that means when the war is finished Ukraine will definitely be invited to Nato and we will definitely become a member nation of the alliance. I haven’t heard any other opinion today.
What did we get from the summit. We got a lot of positive feedback. We really got the unification, and the leaders supported Ukraine. They supported the unambiguity that Ukraine will be in NATO. Saying when it will be, I am sure, according to the support and the statement of each leader at the meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, I believe that we will be in NATO as soon as the security situation is stabilized.
The Netherlands promised to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in August, as well as supply air defense and artillery to Kyiv. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky following a meeting with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte.
Daria Kaleniuk asks Jake Sullivan about what she should say to her son:
"My son was 2 years when Russia invaded Ukraine first in 2014. Should I prepare my son to be a soldier and fight Russians when he will be 17-18 years? We were told then in 2014 not to ask for weapons, negotiate with terrorists, and do reforms.
And now the NATO summit is telling us to wait for more. So please advise me on what should I tell my son: that President Biden and NATO didn't invite Ukraine to NATO because he's afraid of Russia, afraid of Russia losing, afraid of Ukraine winning?"
Sullivan’s response was less than gracious or intelligent especially after the leaked information that there were back channel unauthorised discussions between 3 Americans and Lavrov. Frankly, I’ve been asking myself the same question lately.
Australia to provide 30 more Australian-made Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to support Ukraine, as announced by Australian prime minister Albanese on social media. This new military assistance package takes the total number of Bushmasters committed to 120.
Minister of Defence Reznikov posted on social media: “Ukraine and Sweden signed an agreement on cooperation in defence procurement. This document provides great opportunities both for our armed forces and for Swedish companies like Saab and others.”
Germany to send additional Patriot launcers and missiles to Ukraine. “There is an agreement on additional Patriot launchers and missiles for them from Germany. This is very important for protecting life in Ukraine from Russian terror!”, Zelenskyy said.
Scholz responded to Zelenskyy’s fear that Ukraine’s NATO membership could become a bargaining chip in future peace talks with Russia:
“It’s very clear that the question of NATO membership won’t be an issue that can be raised by others who are not part of this partnership in other words, Russia will not be able to mandate this, and I think that is very clear.”
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that a bill to ratify Sweden’s Nato accession won’t be put to parliament until autumn when it re-opens. Speaking at a news conference after the Nato summit in Vilnius, Erdogan said that Sweden will provide a roadmap for Turkey regarding the steps it will take against purported terrorism before the ratification.
Nato appears to have shelved, at least for now, plans to open a liaison office in Tokyo. For the second year running, heads of state from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea attended the summit, which is increasingly concerned with the threat of China alongside Russia. France had openly opposed the plans for a Nato liaison office in Tokyo, concerned that it would antagonise China and be interpreted as territorial overreach.
Sunak press conference: Prime Minister Sunak was asked if the security packages announced could lead to World War Three.
Sunak said: “I think the only person who’s responsible for this conflict is president Putin. [He] is engaged in an unprovoked an illegal invasion of another country violating their territorial integrity and sovereignty, that is a flagrant breach of international law and the UN Charter.”
He added: “The person who can quickly end this war is president Putin and by withdrawing his forces [and] recognising what he’s doing is wrong.”
G7 signs declaration outlining support for Ukraine
Members of the G7 have signed a joint declaration outlining the long-term security and economic support they plan to provide Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion, as well as support to facilitate a “reform agenda” that will provide Ukraine with “the good governance necessary to advance towards its Euro-Atlantic aspirations”.
The declaration outlines how the G7 will support Ukraine:
Ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future by providing modern military equipment, across land, air, and sea, intelligence sharing and the training of Ukrainian forces.
Strengthening Ukraine’s economic stability and resilience, including through reconstruction and recovery efforts, to create the conditions conducive to promoting Ukraine’s economic prosperity, including its energy security.
Providing technical and financial support for Ukraine’s immediate needs stemming from Russia’s war as well as to enable Ukraine to continue implementing the effective reform agenda that will support the good governance necessary to advance towards its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
The declaration also says that in the event of a future Russian armed attack, the G7 will provide Ukraine with swift and sustained security assistance, including modern military equipment, economic assistance and will issue costs to Russia.
The declaration also recognises “the need for the establishment of an international mechanism for reparation of damages, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression”.
In exchange for this support, Ukraine would commit to reforms “to underscore its commitments to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and media freedoms”, “put its economy on a sustainable path” and strengthen “democratic civilian control of the military”.
Moments of levity at NATO
Checking out memes…?
What’s Orbàn doing there…
Maybe Biden was surprised to see him here because of this…
I don’t think this was meant to be funny but it is. He also said, "The security guarantees offered by the G7 countries to Ukraine violate Russia's security" (Interfax)
