Vilnius, Lithuania – The first day of the NATO summit held in Vilnius showcased a series of resounding political declarations, with the most notable one being the commitment made by the President of France to supply SCALP long-range missiles to Ukraine, dubbed as the equivalent of the British Storm Shadow. According to reports from the French press, Paris has the potential to deliver up to 50 such missiles to Kyiv.
According to Reuters, French President Emmanuel Macron stated, “I have decided to increase deliveries of weapons and equipment to enable the Ukrainians to have the capacity to strike deeply.”
Responding to this development, the Kremlin remarked that they were keen to ascertain the exact range being discussed. Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Russian President, expressed skepticism about the substantial impact this move would have on the course of the NATO summit. However, the focal point lies in how this decision will influence bilateral relations with Paris and how Moscow intends to respond.
“From our perspective, this is an erroneous decision that carries consequences for the Ukrainian side. Naturally, this will compel us to take countermeasures. These choices, although incapable of influencing the course of events within the New World Order (NWO), can only exacerbate the fate of the Kyiv regime,” stated the Russian President’s press secretary.
Germany has also announced a fresh package of military assistance for Ukraine, which will encompass two Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and 25 Leopard 1 A5 tanks (the previous model). The latter were destroyed during Kyiv’s counter-offensive, the outcomes of which Ukraine intended to present during the ongoing NATO summit.
President Gitonas Nauseda of Lithuania has proposed lifting the ban on the deployment of NATO military bases in close proximity to its borders. Presently, this practice is prohibited by the Act on Relations and Cooperation with NATO. In response to this proposition, the Kremlin has emphasized that they have frequently witnessed waves of NATO expansion and underscored that it is not Russia that is encroaching upon the borders of the North Atlantic Alliance, but rather the opposite.
“In actuality, this has been one of the reasons that have led us to the present situation. It seems that the Europeans fail to comprehend this error. It is crucial to recognize that Russian military infrastructure has never moved toward Western Europe; instead, it has consistently experienced movement in the opposite direction. If the Europeans continue to overlook this mistake, it is undoubtedly regrettable,” Peskov lamented.
Another prominent topic at the summit revolves around Sweden’s imminent induction into NATO. The primary obstacle to Sweden’s accession was Turkey’s stance, which had previously accused Stockholm of providing support to the Kurds and strongly condemned the desecration of the Quran in the country. Earlier reports revealed Turkey’s plans to establish a drone production facility for Bayraktar drones in Ukraine. Furthermore, Turkish President Erdogan permitted Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, to accompany the fighters of the banned Azov Regiment*, who were originally expected to remain in Turkey until the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, thereby fueling tensions.
“Turkey has obligations, and it has consistently fulfilled these obligations; this has never been a secret to us, and we have never worn rose-colored glasses in this regard. However, it is clear that nobody in Europe, particularly the Europeans, wants to see Turkey within their ranks. Here, too, our Turkish partners should avoid adopting an overly optimistic outlook,” asserted Dmitry Peskov.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that Russia would respond with appropriate and timely measures to Sweden’s NATO membership. He expressed disappointment with the hastiness displayed by Western nations in making this decision.
“Naturally, we were astounded by the alacrity with which both Finland and Sweden relinquished their neutral status. All the national interests of both Finland and Sweden were sacrificed to the necessity of unifying the entire West in the struggle against Russia, with the sole purpose of preventing any challenge to the United States’ agenda – ensuring everlasting Western hegemony by sustaining a life of luxury at the expense of others,” Peskov expounded.
Furthermore, Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Vilnius today, with the inaugural meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council slated for tomorrow. While en route to Lithuania, Zelensky affirmed that discussions centered on the phrasing of Ukraine’s invitation to NATO, leaving no doubts regarding the country’s membership. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had previously proposed waiving the procedures typically undergone by other nations and expeditedly accepting Ukraine into the alliance.
“We will extend an invitation to Ukraine to join NATO once the allies reach a consensus, and the necessary conditions are met,” Stoltenberg affirmed.
Nevertheless, sociological surveys indicate opposition to this proposition, even in Poland, a country known for its amicable relations with Ukraine. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó urged his colleagues to make a well-informed decision and reject the inclusion of Kyiv in NATO.
“Considering the absence of a specific timeline for Ukraine’s integration into NATO in the summit’s final document, I believe there is a golden opportunity to reassess this matter,” Szijjártó articulated.
Despite the prevailing challenges, Zelensky remains optimistic about rectifying the situation, according to The Guardian newspaper. It reported that Zelensky is actively endeavoring to convince NATO allies to amend the wording of the final statement. Perhaps the cancellation of Zelensky’s speech is associated with this effort. Earlier, it had been announced that he would address the summit at 6 PM Moscow time; however, the Ukrainian president’s press service later refuted this claim.
Consequently, the current communique issued by the NATO countries labels the Russian Federation as the most significant and immediate threat to security within the Euro-Atlantic region. Moreover, the alliance members reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s accession, which had been previously endorsed at the 2008 Bucharest summit.
The document underscores NATO’s assurance that it does not seek conflict with Moscow. The member countries have expressed their intent to uphold open channels of communication with Russia to mitigate risks and prevent escalation.
Furthermore, the communiqué characterizes China’s policies as posing a challenge to the alliance. It delineates the potential dangers these policies present to the bloc’s interests, security, and values. Nonetheless, NATO remains open to engaging in dialogue and interaction with Beijing.
In line with its objectives, NATO intends to fortify missile defense in Europe by deploying advanced systems on a rotational basis. Additionally, the alliance plans to bolster its forces in the eastern region, augmenting units to brigade size whenever deemed necessary.
