NATO

NATO Secretary General Rutte says there is no evidence of North Korean soldiers participating in the fighting in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Alliance is ready to provide Ukraine with everything it needs to fight Russia. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of partner unity and support for the Victory Plan.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denied information about plans to develop weapons of mass destruction. Ukraine remains a committed party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and calls for increased pressure on Russia.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke with Slovak Prime Minister Fico on the sidelines of a European Council meeting. Zelensky called on Fico to support Ukraine, warning of the danger from Putin.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment at a military hospital in Brussels. He spoke with the wounded defenders of Donetsk region and presented them with state awards.

President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has never spoken of intentions to build nuclear weapons. He recalled the Budapest Memorandum and the security guarantees that Ukraine was supposed to receive in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons.

President Zelenskyy announces preparations to receive aircraft from France. France plans to deliver Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025, but the exact number has not been announced.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that China cannot fuel the conflict in Ukraine without consequences for its interests. He called for working with partners to overcome common challenges and protect values.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. He will meet with the Alliance's Secretary General and participate in a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council to discuss the situation and needs of Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban called Ukraine's Victory Plan “frightening”. He called on the leaders of Germany and France to start negotiations with Russia on behalf of the EU to find a way out of the situation.

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Political Analysis, denied information about Ukraine's plans to restore its nuclear arsenal. He called such reports “fantasies of Western journalists” and fiction.

Kyiv is seriously considering restoring its own nuclear weapons stockpile. Zelenskyy said that Ukraine's security could be ensured either by NATO membership or nuclear weapons.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with his Norwegian counterpart Arild Gram. The parties discussed the transfer of F-16s, strengthening air defense, and Norway's ability to contribute to the financing of Ukrainian defense companies.

President Zelenskyy said that the German Chancellor could provide Ukraine with long-range weapons without authorizing strikes against russia. He reminded that Ukraine has already effectively used long-range weapons in Crimea.

A missile threat has been announced in the occupied Crimea, and air defense is reported to be operating. The Kerch Bridge is covered with a smoke screen, explosions are heard near Dzhankoy, and a NATO reconnaissance aircraft is spotted over Romania.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov presented the Victory Plan in the European Parliament. He called for the development of air defense, the lifting of restrictions on strikes against Russia, and investment in the Ukrainian defense industry.

President Zelenskyy said that the United States views Ukraine's invitation to NATO as a “red line. ” He emphasized the unfairness of this approach, stressing that words of support should be backed by actions.

President Zelenskyy spoke about his conversation with Trump about the importance of Ukraine's membership in NATO. He emphasized that Ukraine chooses NATO over nuclear weapons to defend itself.

The defense ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Sweden supported Ukraine's Victory Plan. They called for increased support for Kyiv and acceleration of Ukraine's movement toward NATO membership.

President Zelenskyy proposed that the partners conclude an agreement to protect Ukraine's critical resources. He emphasized the importance of preventing russia's access to Ukrainian resources and the need for joint investments.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen endorsed Zelensky's victory plan, calling it “many, many good ideas. ” She emphasized the importance of Ukraine's involvement in NATO as “the most important life insurance.

President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is preparing a second Peace Summit even without fulfilling the points of the Victory Plan. He believes that without partners' support for this plan, Ukraine's position at the summit will be weaker.

President Zelenskyy has proposed deploying a missile deterrent in Ukraine to force Russia into peace talks. He provided details to partners capable of implementing this: The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany.

President Zelenskyy said that the refusal of partners to support Ukraine's Victory Plan would be a mistake. He emphasized that Ukraine's weakness is Russia's strength, and the plan contains important points on security and the economy.

The President of Ukraine said that an invitation to NATO would strengthen the country's position and confirm the irreversibility of European integration. Zelenskyy emphasized that this would be the main argument for ending the war.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur reiterated his interest in promoting Ukraine's accession to NATO. He emphasized that membership in the Alliance is the only real guarantee of security for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Zelenskyy's Peace Plan has many issues that need to be discussed with Ukraine. NATO cannot yet support the Victory Plan, but it is confidently supporting Ukraine.

Mark Rutte said that Ukraine will join NATO in the future. This decision was made in Washington, although the exact procedure for accession has not yet been determined.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the continuation of assistance to Ukraine. The Alliance has provided €20.9 billion in military assistance in the first half of 2024 and plans to fulfill its commitments by the end of the year.

The United States is shifting the focus of training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots to junior cadets due to a lack of experienced aviators with English language skills. A full squadron of 20 aircraft and 40 pilots is expected no earlier than spring-summer 2025.