18 injured by aerial object falling in Zaporizhzhia city, military says
From CNN's Yulia Kesaieva in Kyiv
At least 18 people have been injured in the city of Zaporizhzhia due to an "unidentified hostile aerial object," according to the regional military administration in the city.
Yurii Malashko, head of Zaporizhzhia's regional military administration, said six children are among those injured. The incident happened Wednesday afternoon.
Anatolii Kurtiev, secretary of Zaporizhzhia City Council, said windows had been broken in six apartment buildings in a residential area of the city.
Zaporizhzhia is not far from the front lines in southern Ukraine.
4:15 p.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Russia is militarily and politically fragile, French president says
From CNN’s Joseph Ataman in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at a news conference during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12. Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
Russia is currently "fragile, militarily and politically," French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday in a speech at the NATO summit in Lithuania.
He said there are "signs of division in Russia," seemingly referring to the recent short-lived rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner group.
The French president pledged to "be there" for Ukraine, even if the war is a “war of attrition," adding that the support for Kyiv is sustainable.
However, the French leader said NATO allies must do more for Ukraine, adding that the time to do so is now, during the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
12:00 p.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Ukrainian official says G7 declaration is an "important victory" for the country
From CNN's Julia Kesaieva in Kyiv and Tim Lister
The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, is pictured during a briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 29. Kaniuka Ruslan/Ukrinform/Future Publishing/Getty Images
The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, Andriy Yermak, described the NATO summit in Lithuania as successful for Ukraine, stressing that the Group of 7 declaration of support is an "important victory."
Yermak said in a Telegram post that the NATO summit had been "not easy, but successful."
"We have powerful defense agreements and a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine agreed by the G7 countries. It is an important step towards the conclusion of a system of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and individual guarantor countries on security guarantees for our country," he said.
The G7 declaration was "an important victory for Ukraine on its way to NATO ... that takes into account both the needs of Ukraine and the capabilities of the Allies," Yermak said.
"The next step is to conclude a system of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and individual guarantor countries," he added.
Yermak also pointed to the creation of mechanisms for collecting reparations and prosecution of those responsible for alleged war crimes against Ukraine.
"It is important that we win the war and sign security guarantees for our country before the NATO summit in Washington in 2024. They will be valid until we join NATO," he concluded.
What's in the G7 declaration: The document outlined that G7 countries will work with Ukraine on “bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements" toward three goals, including:
“Ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future”
“Strengthening Ukraine’s economic stability and resilience”
“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”
CNN's Betsy Klein contributed reporting to this post.
10:51 a.m. ET, July 12, 2023
UK defense secretary says NATO is "struggling" to keep ammunition flowing to Ukraine
From CNN's Natasha Bertrand in Vilnius, Lithuania
UK Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said NATO countries "are struggling to find ways" to keep ammunition supplied to Ukraine as Russia's full-scale invasion continues past 500 days.
"Huge amounts of munitions are being fired and used," he said at a panel during the NATO summit In Vilnius, Lithuania.
Wallace told CNN on Wednesday that because of the shortages, he understands why the US opted to provide controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine in an attempt to fill the gap. But he said that since the UK has adopted a ban on those munitions, it cannot promote their use in any way.
“At one level, I understand the military requirement that the Ukrainians were facing,” he said. “And the United States is not a signatory to that treaty, so it frees them up to do what they feel is right.”
“They are just finding ways around the challenge,” Wallace said. But, he added, “we've signed the treaty, we feel that we can't champion the use of (cluster munitions). We can't propose them. We can't promote them. We can't support them. We can't assist them, and that is the bounds of them.”
US President Joe Biden told CNN last week that the US is “running low” on ammunition stockpiles that it can send to Ukraine, which is a reason why Biden decided to send the munitions. The provision of the cluster munitions is temporary, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said last week, until the US can ramp up its production of unitary ammunition.
Wallace said the broader question of a stockpile issue is a serious concern because of the amount of supplies Ukraine has needed to carry out its counteroffensive.
“The supplying of equipment to Ukraine has been huge, vast. I think they prepared 12 Brigades for this offensive — two brigades is bigger than most people's armies, right? 12 effectively armored brigades prepared for this counteroffensive, mainly out of gifted equipment and donations," he said.
“All of us have had to struggle stimulating our supply chains, some of which went to sleep,” he added.
Wallace also said a big specific challenge they see with Ukraine is its ability to shut down runways being used by Russian planes. The long-range Storm Shadow missile that the UK has provided “is a deep-strike weapon, but it is not designed to destroy runways,” he said, so the UK is trying to find ways to help Ukrainian troops improve that capability.
10:42 a.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Zelensky thanks Americans for US support packages to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a G7 declaration of joint support for Ukraine on July 12, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Paul Ellis/Pool/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US President Joe Biden and Americans for standing "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine through Russia's war on the country.
Speaking ahead of their meeting at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Zelensky acknowledged that the aid the US has sent to Ukraine so far is a large amount of money.
"You have to know that you spent this money for — not just for fighting. You spent this money for our lives, and I think that we saved the lives for Europe and for all the world," he said.
Zelensky also thanked Biden for sending cluster munitions among other weapons, saying it was a "difficult political decision," but it will help save Ukraine.
10:38 a.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Biden: "I look forward to the day" Ukraine joins NATO
US President Joe Biden speaks during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their bilateral meeting that he looks forward to the day Ukraine officially joins NATO.
"You've done an enormous job, you have a lot more to do. And I just think that, you know, we're going to make sure that you get what you need. And I look forward to the day when we're having the meeting to celebrate your official, official membership in NATO," Biden said Wednesday.
"The bad news for you is we're not going anywhere. You're stuck with us. We're not going anywhere," he added.
Remember: Biden, who is meeting with Zelensky for face-to-face talks Wednesday, acknowledged the alliance did not invite Ukraine to join NATO membership during the summit. While Zelensky praised discussions, he has also expressed frustrations that no timetable has been put forward on Ukraine joining NATO.
10:24 a.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Romania to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s as soon as next month
From CNN's Tim Lister
Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft take part in a NATO exercise on July 4. John Thys/AFP/Getty Images
Romania will begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 combat aircraft, possibly beginning as soon as next month, according to a source familiar with the ongoing discussions.
An airbase in Romania has been designated for the training.
Romania currently has 16 F-16s, with another 32 expected to arrive from Norway by the end of 2024.
The source said preparations include a Romanian request for an F-16 flight simulator from the plane's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin.
Romania has about ten qualified Romanian instructors who have completed more than 2,000 hours flying the plane. Three or four of Romania's current squadron of F-16s could be used at any one time on the training mission, the source added.
The duration of the training program is to be decided, but Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Tuesday he hoped there would be results within six months.
Radu Tudor, defense analyst with CNN affiliate Antena 3 in Bucharest, said: "There have been intense negotiations for two months on the training program. The Romanian Air Force and other allied countries will provide trainers for both NATO pilots and in the near future for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 training program."
On Tuesday at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Reznikov signed a memorandum outlining the training terms for combat aircraft with 11 coalition members: Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
10:19 a.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Biden: The US is doing "everything we can" to support Ukraine
US President Joe Biden speaks during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
US President Joe Biden addressed the frustration that has been expressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukraine's needs during Russia's war, and said, "the United States is doing everything we can."
"Your resilience and the resolve has been a model for the whole world to see. And the frustration, I can only imagine. I know you're many times frustrated about when things get to you quickly enough and what's getting to you and how we're getting there. But I promise you, the United States is doing everything we can to get you what you need as rapidly as we will get it to you," Biden said before his meeting with Zelenksy.
Some background: Biden and G7 leaders unveiled a substantial show of support for Ukraine Wednesday at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, offering a joint declaration of support for Ukraine aimed at bolstering the war-torn country’s military capability.
The security guarantees from leading nations and assurances that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO on Wednesday appeared to calm brewing worries that Ukrainian frustrations at not being admitted to the alliance would overshadow one of the most significant meetings of the alliance in recent memory.
Zelensky arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday and had issued a blistering statement expressing his frustration at not receiving more specific details on when and how Ukraine would join the alliance.
9:38 a.m. ET, July 12, 2023
Biden: G7 joint declaration will ensure support for Ukraine will last "long into the future"
US President Joe Biden speaks alongside G7 leaders, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce a Joint Declaration of Support to Ukraine in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday. Kacper Pempel/Reuters
US President Joe Biden said members of the Group of 7 are launching a joint declaration "to make it clear that our support will last long into the future."
In remarks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Japanese President Fumio Kishida at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Biden said "we're not waiting" for the NATO accession process to play out before guaranteeing long-term security commitments to Ukraine.
"This starts a process by which each of our nations and any other nation who wishes to participate will negotiate long-term bilateral security commitments with and to Ukraine. We're gonna help Ukraine build a strong, capable defense across land, air and sea ... It will be a force of stability in the region and deter against any and all threats," Biden said.
The US president promised to help Ukraine "for as long as that takes."
The joint declaration by G7 leaders is displayed before the announcement on Wednesday. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
