US Secretary of State and Ukraine's Foreign Minister talk before NATO summit in Vilnius
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba have held a telephone conversation before the start of the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital.
Source: European Pravda
Details: The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department released brief messages about the conversation, the final one before the Allies Summit in Vilnius, where Ukraine hopes to receive a signal about the prospects of joining the Alliance as well as security guarantees for the time it remains outside NATO.
Dmytro Kuleba called the conversation "productive". "With 48 hours left, we are working to make its final decisions a win for all: Ukraine, NATO, and global security. I also thanked the U.S. for another ground-breaking defence package, which includes much-needed ammunition," he said.
The State Department said Kuleba and Blinken had discussed "progress in Ukraine’s counteroffensive" and preparations for the summit. "The Secretary reiterated steadfast U.S. support and continued security assistance as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s aggression," the communiqué said.
Background:
- On Friday, 7 July, the USA officially announced the provision of a new package of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of US$800 million, which included cluster munitions.
- According to media reports, a small group of NATO states is conducting "frantic last-minute negotiations" to finalise a declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine ahead of the NATO summit in Lithuania on 11-12 July.
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