07/11/2023
Ukraine war in the live ticker
+++ 00:12 Habeck: “Sweden’s accession strengthens NATO” +++
Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens welcomes the end of the blockade on Sweden’s NATO accession. The economics minister said in Heidelberg on the sidelines of a summer trip that the approval of Sweden’s admission was a good step. “It strengthens NATO. It follows the wishes of the Swedes. A strong and, above all, strong European NATO is an important pillar for the security architecture of the world in times like these.” NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg had previously announced an end to Turkey’s blockade of Sweden joining the alliance.
+++ 23:32 Kristersson: “It was a good day for Sweden” +++
Sweden’s Prime Minister Kristersson is satisfied with the agreement in the NATO dispute with Turkish President Erdogan. “It was a good day for Sweden,” says the head of government in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. He was very happy that Erdogan, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and he were able to agree on a joint declaration, with which a very big step was taken towards the formal ratification of Sweden’s NATO accession. At the same time, Kristersson emphasizes that the points agreed between the countries are long-term commitments on the part of Sweden.
+++ 22:45 Biden welcomes Erdogan’s NATO U-turn +++
US President Biden welcomes Turkey’s decision to lift its blockade on Sweden’s NATO entry. He looks forward to welcoming Sweden as NATO’s 32nd member, Biden said in one opinion of the White House. He further announced that he is now ready to work with Turkish President Erdogan to strengthen defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. Turkey has long sought to modernize its fighter jet fleet. Among other things, she had asked the United States to sell 40 American F-16 fighter jets. Biden had already made it clear on Sunday that he saw arms sales as a means of solving Turkey’s blockade of Sweden’s accession to NATO.
+++ 22:23 Zelenskyj: Ukraine will be in NATO after the war +++
Before the start of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is confident that the country will be a member of the military alliance after the end of the Russian war of aggression. “Even if different positions are expressed, it is still obvious that Ukraine deserves to be in the alliance. Not now – now is the war, but we need a clear signal,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video message distributed in Kyiv . “The majority of the alliance is clearly for us.” The summit in Vilnius must confirm that. “We are still working on the formulation, that is, on the concrete words of such a confirmation, but we already understand that Ukraine will join the alliance. We are working on making the algorithm for joining as clear and fast as possible,” said Zelenskyj. Once again he stressed that Ukraine’s struggle is in the interests of the West. The security of NATO’s eastern flank depends on Ukraine.
+++ 22:08 Australia stationed military aircraft and soldiers in Germany +++
Australia is providing military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine with a military aircraft and up to 100 Australian soldiers and civilian staff. The E-7A Wedgetail aircraft will monitor the multinational logistics hubs for Ukraine, will be stationed in Germany for six months and will operate in European airspace. This was announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. The E-7A is a Boeing 737 upgraded for command and control, measuring almost 34 meters long and has a range of 7040 kilometers. The deployment shows “Australia’s commitment to maintaining a rules-based international order,” Albanese said. “This contribution is very important.” The Prime Minister thanked Germany for hosting the Australian soldiers.
Read earlier developments here.