July 12, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

Ukraine is looking to deploy F-16 fighter jets by March 2024, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview published on Wednesday.

So far, no government has committed to providing Ukraine with the US-made aircraft.

The interview with Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty), recorded on Tuesday, comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in which the two nations “agreed to start training pilots in August.”

“We are getting closer to a decision on modern aviation for Ukraine,” Zelensky said on Telegram. 

When asked Tuesday if he could publicly announce when training will start and when Ukraine may expect to receive F-16s, Kuleba told Radio Svoboda: "I think it's just a very complicated technical issue. The training should start sometime in August, maybe in early September." 

But he noted that there needs to be trainings for engineers and technicians, plus the preparation of infrastructure.

More background: In May, CNN reported that the US changed its stance over supplying F-16s to Ukraine, telling allies it would allow exports of the fighter jets.

A handful of European countries have a supply of the US-made F-16s, including the Netherlands, which has signalled a willingness to export some of them to Ukraine. But the US would have to approve that third party transfer because of the jets’ sensitive US technology.

Ukraine has argued F-16s are essential to fight off Russian air attacks.

Germany is to send Ukraine additional launchers and missiles for Patriot missile defense systems, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday.

“We continued the conversation on security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO with Chancellor Scholz. Thank you for your support,” Zelensky said on Telegram.

“There is an agreement on additional Patriot launchers and missiles for them from Germany. This is very important to protect life in Ukraine from Russian terror.

“I am grateful for Germany's readiness for long-term, multi-year support of Ukraine and our defense of freedom. Long-term support programs are the best signal to everyone in the world that our Europe will remain a space of security and peace.”

On Tuesday, Germany announced weapons and military aid worth €700 million ($769.9 million), the country's defense ministry said in a statement.

Some context: Allies of Kyiv have previously sent Patriots to Kyiv, increasing Ukraine's capacity for long-range air defense.

The Patriot has a powerful radar to detect incoming targets at long range, making it capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and more.

The war in Ukraine shifted Europe's security landscape, prompting NATO member countries including Germany to rethink its approach to national security strategy and modernize its military capacity.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann and Jim Sciutto contributed reporting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects “good news” from his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the NATO summit in Vilnius Wednesday. 

In a tweet, Zelensky said the meeting between the pair had started. 

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's about NATO accession for Ukraine, on day two of the key summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

Zelensky said on Wednesday he had received “Canada’s understanding” regarding security guarantees for Ukraine's membership bid.

“We are discussing security guarantees for Ukraine on its way to NATO — we have Canada's understanding, the world's understanding will follow, and we are preparing an important security victory for Ukraine,” Zelensky said on Telegram.

“I am grateful to Justin and Canada for reinforcing our soldiers with armored vehicles. There are powerful agreements."

Some context: While NATO agreed to remove one requirement for Ukrainian entrance to the bloc it did not provide a firm timeline for when the Ukraine would become a full member.

That has frustrated Zelensky, who arrived at the summit Tuesday calling it "unprecedented and absurd" no time frame had been set.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived for the second day of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Speaking to reporters, Zelensky said he has “three priority questions” on the agenda Wednesday.

He outlined those as a new weapons packages, an invitation for NATO membership and “security guarantees for Ukraine on the way to NATO.”

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, said on Telegram that Kyiv will “talk about defense, security, weapons, and President Zelensky's Peace Formula,” during day two of the summit.

On Wednesday, Ukraine will take part in the first inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council and hold bilateral meetings, Yermak said.

A US official on Wednesday offered vague details about the reforms the United States says are necessary for Ukraine to join NATO a day after the alliance issued a joint communiqué lacking a specific pathway or timeline for the war-torn country’s eventual membership.

Sloat described the communiqué as a “strong, positive message reaffirming that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance,” noting that the Membership Action Plan (MAP) was no longer required for Ukraine to join. 

But, she said, there are a “series of governance and security sector reforms” that Washington is working on with Kyiv and with NATO more broadly, pointing to the “annual national program” document drafted by Ukraine and reviewed by allies’ foreign ministers each year. 

Pressed again for any specific example of the reforms the alliance is looking for, she said the US is taking its lead from Ukraine. 

US President Joe Biden and NATO leaders have “unanimously agreed” to send a “substantial” new aid package to Ukraine, National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters Wednesday — but she declined to provide additional details.

The alliance will also hold the inaugural meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, before Biden meets with Zelensky, with “near and long-term support for Ukraine” on the agenda, Sloat said. 

Later Wednesday, Biden will give a major address on foreign policy, reflecting on the strength and power of the NATO alliance, Sloat added.

US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders are set to make a “major announcement” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania, about boosting Ukraine’s military capabilities, offering additional assistance to the war-torn country as its leader expresses frustration with path to NATO membership. 

The announcement will start a process of bilateral negotiations with Ukraine, Sloat said. 

There will be a “long-term investment in Ukraine’s future force” aimed at “ensuring Ukraine has a sustainable fighting force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future, a strong and stable economy, and the help Ukraine needs to advance the reform agenda to support the good governance necessary to advance Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” she said.

Sloat added the purpose of the declaration would be twofold: bolstering Ukraine’s deterrence, and sending a message to Russia. 

She said the announcement will be made at “an event with the G7 leaders and President Zelensky” following the end of the NATO Summit, with more information to come. 

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 11 of 15 Iran-made Shahed attack drones launched by Russia early Wednesday, Ukraine's Air Force said on Telegram.

In the central Cherkasy region, two people suffered burns and non-residential infrastructure was damaged following Russian drone attacks, a local military official said.

It's unclear whether the reports are related.

Earlier Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said air defenses repelled Russian airstrikes on the Kyiv region for a second consecutive night.