Imprisoned Rebellious Russian Priest Asks Putin To Send Him To ...

WASHINGTON -- NATO leaders attending a landmark summit have backed Ukraine's "irreversible path" to membership, saying that Kyiv has a right to choose its own security arrangements and that its "future is in NATO."

The position, laid out in a joint statement following the first day of discussions at the summit on July 10, provided a clear sign of NATO's continued support for Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against invading Russian forces.

"We reaffirm that we will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met," the statement said.

Speaking at a news conference at the conclusion of the day's meetings, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg discussed a number of steps that were agreed upon to help Ukraine more than two years after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Stoltenberg outlined the launching of a new project under which the alliance will coordinate military support and training for the first time, with a command center in Germany.

He also lauded improved defense funding by alliance members, with 23 of the alliance's 32 members meeting the target of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product this year, and their approval of a pledge to boost defense production.

Stoltenberg defended the provision of weapons to Ukraine, saying it was Ukraine's right under international law to defend itself and to strike military sites on Russian territory.

The goal, Stoltenberg said, was not to prolong the war, but to end it, and that "unless we want to bow to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin we need to show commitment and resolve."

The summit, which will conclude on July 11, is set to discuss a proposal to provide Ukraine with 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in military aid for next year, after member states couldn't agree on a multiyear military aid package for Ukraine that Stoltenberg had proposed.

Stoltenberg also said that other decisions were made in an effort to make "NATO stronger, and allies safer," including the establishment of a new antiballistic missile base in Poland.

Stoltenberg also had sharp criticism for China, whose support for Russia in its war against Ukraine, he said, increased threats to European security.

Stoltenberg earlier said that should Russia be victorious in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it would embolden Iran, China, and North Korea and shape the global-security environment for decades to come.

The joint summit declaration singled out China as a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war against Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden, in his welcoming remarks to the NATO leaders prior to their discussions, lauded the new pledge by NATO members to ramp up their defense production, while stressing that the alliance will not hesitate to defend its territory.

Biden noted Russia's advancements in churning out munitions and weaponry for use in its war against Ukraine.

"We cannot allow the alliance to fall behind," Biden said, adding that Russia's war effort benefited from the help of China, North Korea, and Iran.

"This new pledge sends an unmistakable message to the world that every NATO member is committed to doing their part to keep the alliance strong," Biden said.

"We can and will defend every inch of NATO territory, and do it together."

The first day of meetings opened with the United States saying F-16 fighter jets were on their way to Kyiv while a draft communique being worked on noted Ukraine's "irreversible path" to NATO membership.

As NATO leaders began streaming into the main summit venue on July 10, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that "as we speak, the transfer of F-16 jets is under way, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands."

A joint statement from the countries involved confirmed Blinken's comments, with the fighters expected to arrive during the summer.

"This is a clear signal that Russia's ability to terrorize Ukrainian people, cities, and communities will continue to reduce," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who for months has been urging NATO leaders to speed up deliveries of all types of weaponry, especially jets and anti-missile systems as Russia intensifies its air campaign.

Putin has made clear that Russian demands for a peace settlement include Ukraine's exclusion from NATO.

In addition to the announcement on F-16s, officials have been preparing further support for Kyiv that will be unveiled over the course of the summit.

The summit takes place against the backdrop of U.S. political uncertainty and Russia's intensification of its bombing of Ukraine.

Officials and analysts have noted recently that as Russia steps up its attacks, it appears to positioning itself for a long-term conflict.

A senior NATO official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity, said that despite dwindling resources, Russia would likely be able to maintain its war economy for three to four years.

However, the official added that the Kremlin lacked the munitions and troops to launch a major offensive against Ukraine in the near term.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose pro-Russian views have irked the alliance, is likely to test NATO’s unity.

Orban, who just took over the rotating presidency of the EU, flew to Moscow last week and then to China without informing the bloc ahead of time to discuss an end to the war with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Biden's performance at the summit will also be closely watched amid concerns about his age and ability to lead after a dismal showing in a debate with Republican rival Donald Trump as Americans prepare to vote in a presidential election on November 5.

A growing number of fellow Democrats have called for Biden to end his reelection campaign since the debate on June 26.

Biden's poor debate performance and the specter of another Trump presidency has many European allies worried.