NATO Summit in Washington: Day 2 - Strengthening Ukrainian Air Defence and Alliance Protection Amid Russian War
In Washington, DC, where the 75th NATO Summit began the day before, participants are discussing strengthening Ukraine's air defences and the Alliance's collective defence against Russia's war in Ukraine. In addition to 32 Allies, the event is attended by representatives of 35 partner countries, including Ukraine. During the two-day summit, leaders will agree to increase military support for Ukraine.
The summit takes place against the backdrop of Russia's escalating massive missile attacks on Ukraine this week. The most recent one on 8 July killed at least 40 people, including 5 children, and partially destroyed Ukraine's largest children's hospital, Okhmatdyt, where children were undergoing surgeries and dialysis.
Progress is expected today on the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to help Kyiv better fight back against Russia's devastating attacks.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on NATO to provide more air defence systems and F-16s for Kyiv, counting on additional security guarantees and the necessary decisive action by the US and Europe to counter the escalation of Russian terrorism in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy called on the United States to lift existing restrictions on strikes on Russian territory to protect Ukrainian cities from attacks by guided bombs.
He said this during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.
Zelenskyy thanked for America's permission to strike military targets in Russia on the border with Kharkiv.
According to him, the Russian offensive there has now been halted, and the Ukrainian military is pushing the Russian army out of the areas near Kharkiv. The President noted the destruction of Russian missile launchers that had been firing at Kharkiv daily for more than two years, which gave Kharkiv protection from missile attacks.
As a reminder, on the first day of the NATO summit, the supply of five Patriot and SAMP-T strategic air defence systems, as well as dozens of tactical air defence systems, was agreed. A joint statement was issued by the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Romania.