NATO meets to support Ukraine, Russia warns

Kyiv [Ukraine], July 12: NATO leaders yesterday began an important meeting, discussing Ukraine's efforts to join the bloc as well as supporting it against Russia.
The two-day NATO summit began taking place in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius yesterday, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.
"SEND positive messages"
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday that at the Allies conference it will be clear how Ukraine can become a NATO member in the future. "I hope the allies will send a clear, united and positive message about Ukraine's path to membership," Stoltenberg said when he arrived at the conference, according to Reuters.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also said yesterday that NATO would draw up a roadmap for reforms for Ukraine so that it could eventually join the alliance, but did not provide a timeframe. Mr. Sullivan ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO at this time, saying that this would "push NATO into a war with Russia".
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the evening of July 10 emphasized that the summit in Vilnius must confirm that Ukraine is already a "de facto" member of NATO because it has NATO weapons and shares values ​​with the alliance. bright. "Even if there are different views, it is clear that Ukraine deserves to be in this alliance. Not now - there is war, but we need a clear signal," Zelensky stressed.
In addition to the issue of membership, NATO countries are discussing temporary security measures to provide Kyiv, in addition to current aid to help the Ukrainian military repel Russian forces. Mr. Sullivan said those measures will be discussed during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and President Zelensky in Vilnius on July 12.
While attending a NATO conference, French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that France would start supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles. In addition, Reuters on the same day cited two sources revealing that the German government had closed a military aid package worth 700 million euros (more than 18,300 billion dong) for Ukraine.
C new warning of RUSSIA
The RIA news agency yesterday quoted Russian Ambassador to Belgium Alexander Tokovinin as warning that the regional defense plans that NATO intends to adopt at this summit will make the bloc's confrontation with Russia more tense. lengthen. On the same day, RIA quoted Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian delegation at the talks on military security and arms control in Vienna (Austria), as warning that Europe would be the first region to face with "catastrophic consequences" if the conflict with Ukraine escalates.
Hours before the NATO summit began, Russia launched 28 suicide drones into ports in the city of Odessa and the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Air Force. The force claims to have shot down 26 UAVs, and Governor Oleh Kiper of Odessa province said that two drones crashed into a building in the port of Odessa, but caused no serious consequences. As of last night, there was no information about Russia's response.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper