President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Poland, one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies, to discuss defense and economic cooperation. He will sign a deal on supplies including armored personnel carriers.
(Bloomberg) — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Poland, one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies, to discuss defense and economic cooperation. He will sign a deal on supplies including armored personnel carriers.
NATO foreign ministers held a second day of talks in Brussels on Wednesday, focusing on threats and spending after Finland became the 31st member of the military alliance.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were due to kick-start a visit to China, where they’ll try to persuade President Xi Jinping to change his stance on Russia’s war.
Key Developments
- Finland Unlikely to Get NATO Battle Group on Its Territory
- Germany’s Ultimate Fighting Machines Are Racking Up Orders
- Xi Courts Macron in Bid to Drive Wedge Between Europe and US
(All times CET)
Russian Shelling Kills Four Ukrainian Civilians, Wounds 14 Overnight (9:20 a.m.)
Russian troops shelled eight regions of Ukraine, almost a third of all regions, overnight using mortar, artillery, tanks, tactical aviation and drones, the Ukrainian military said. At least four civilians were killed and another 14 wounded, while 75 infrastructure facilities were damaged, the military said without giving details.
Swedish, Turkish Ministers Meet at NATO Gathering (8:45 a.m.)
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom met his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels and will meet his Hungarian colleague later Wednesday, as his country presses for its bid to join the alliance to be finalized by the two allies.
Turkey told Sweden that its anti-terror legislation due to enter into force on June 1 was “very important for Turkey,” Billstrom said, adding the law would prohibit people from using Swedish territory for terrorist activity or to finance such activity.
“We are now ready with everything within the memorandum, it’s only one more piece and that’s the legislation,” Billstrom said referring to a deal hashed out in Madrid last year between Turkey, Finland and Sweden aimed at easing Turkish concerns so it would greenlight the Nordic countries’ membership. “So yes we believe we are doing what we’ve committed ourselves to do.”
Poland, Ukraine to Sign Deal on Armored Carrier Deliveries (8:40 a.m.)
Zelenskiy and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will on Wednesday sign a letter of intent for the delivery of defense equipment including the Polish-made KTO Rosomak armored personnel carrier, according to the plan of the visit released by the prime minister’s office.
German, Czech Ministers Press NATO Allies for More Defense Spending (8:30 a.m.)
The German and Czech foreign ministers urged allies to boost defense spending especially as NATO looks to beef up its posture, particularly on the bloc’s eastern flank.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a second day of meetings among NATO’s foreign ministers in Brussels, Germany’s Annalena Baerbock said all allies’ defense spending would need to rise but that investments needed to be more coordinated. Members at the Russian border are especially in need of help, she said adding “that’s why we need more financial means and need to use them efficiently.”
Asked about spending at least 2.5% of GDP, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said defense expenditure needed to rise following “Putin’s imperialism.” The ministers today will discuss the alliance’s next investment pledge due to be agreed by leaders in Vilnius in July.
Zelenskiy Arrives in Poland to Discuss Defense, Economic Ties (8 a.m.)
Zelenskiy will discuss defense and economic cooperation, according to Marcin Przydacz, an aide to Polish President Andrzej Duda. Zelenskiy will meet Polish officials and aid workers before he and Duda address an audience at the Royal Castle in Warsaw in the evening.
Poland has provided Ukraine with weapons, tanks and fighter jets. It also became the key destination for millions of refugees fleeing the war zone.
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