The situation in the confrontation between Russia and NATO is degrading to the most unfavorable scenario, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said 

He added that the measures taken by the Western countries created more and more insurmountable obstacles on the way out of the most acute military and political crisis, "fraught with the most serious consequences for international security."

NATO leaders will gather in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on July 11-12, 2023, to discuss a wide range of topics ranging from Sweden's accession to the alliance to military assistance to Ukraine.

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⚡ US considers supply of cluster munitions to Ukraine as 'temporary measure': White House

NATO summit kicks off in Vilnius

Leaders of the world's largest military alliance will discuss a broad range of issues, while prioritizing the Ukrainian crisis and Sweden's entry to the US-led bloc.

Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more!

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📹 Ukraine's police and security forces block the buildings of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched a new wave of their offensive with the use of heavy equipment in the Zaporozhye region, Vladimir Rogov, head of the public movement "We are together with Russia," told Sputnik

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said that another attempt by US aircraft to violate the country's airspace could become a "critical flight" for them

On Monday, Kim Yo Jong said that a US reconnaissance plane entered the airspace above North Korea's economic zone. She added that US reconnaissance aircraft violated the country’s airspace several times from July 2-9.

"I have already notified beforehand the counteraction of our army upon authorization. In case of repeated illegal intrusion, the U.S. forces will experience a very critical flight," the politician was quoted as saying by North Korean state media.

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⚡️ NATO Secretary General says proposed to cancel membership action plan for Ukraine to join alliance, which will shorten accession process

The crisis in Ukraine has consumed most of NATO’s attention (and well over $100 billion in taxpayer money) over the past 16 months. As members gather for the bloc’s 36th summit, the issue of Ukraine’s relationship vis-a-vis the alliance is at center stage.

Sputnik outlines the issues on the table, and the decisions which may be reached

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Jens Stoltenberg said that he would appoint a special representative to combat terrorism

The fight against terrorism is carried out by NATO in different directions, so the bloc needs a single coordinator to improve the work of different divisions in the fight against terrorism, Stoltenberg added.

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⚡️ France to transfer long-range missiles to Kiev to support Ukrainian military's offensive - Macron

The immense damage wrought by the riots in France, sparked by the killing of a teenager by a police officer in late June, will cost insurance companies 650 million euros

Insurance claims related to professional property loss amount to 55% of the total sum, while claims related to the property of local authorities reach 35%, according the French federation of insurance companies France Assureurs.

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Kremlin on France's plans to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine: Bad decision which will have consequences for Kiev

France's decision to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine will force Russia to take retaliatory measures - Kremlin

Kremlin on possibility of Ukraine's accelerated NATO accession: Those who make decisions should understand risks to Europe's security

🇩🇪 Scholz confirms Germany preparing new package of military assistance to Ukraine amounting to 700 million euros

Germany will supply Kiev with two Patriot air defense systems under new package of military assistance

The Kremlin’s latest statements in light of NATO Summit:

▪️ NATO perceives Russia as an enemy and adversary, discussions at Vilnius summit will be held in this vein;

▪️ NATO representatives demonstrate strong anti-Russian attitude ahead of Vilnius summit;

▪️ Kremlin on Ankara's support for Sweden's accession to NATO: Turkiye is member of alliance, has certain obligations;

▪️ Europe does not want to see Turkiye as part of itself, Ankara should not have illusions about this matter;

▪️ Kremlin on Russia-Turkiye cooperation: Differences exist, but there another aspect of relations absolutely corresponds to the interests of both countries;

▪️ Measures in response to Sweden's accession to NATO will be similar to those taken against Finland following its accession to the alliance.

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📹 Russian pranksters Vovan & Lexus tricked former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger into thinking he was on the phone with Ukraine’s President Zelensky

😏 When asked who he thought was responsible for the Nord Stream bombing, Kissinger said, "I thought it was you," referring to the Ukrainian president.

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📹 Footage showing the combat work of the BMPT "Terminator" hitting the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the zone of the special military op

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🇺🇸🇬🇧 US President Joe Biden's recent visit to the UK revealed potential strains in the "rock solid" relationship between the two countries. The meeting between Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not yield significant results.

The UK is reportedly displeased with the US' hesitance to expedite Ukraine's NATO membership and Biden's alleged preference for Ursula von der Leyen as NATO secretary general. Furthermore, Biden's Democratic Party has shown less support for the UK's Brexit decision.

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Denmark, Sweden and Germany published a joint letter to the UN on the eve of the meeting of the Security Council, requested by Russia, on the investigation of the terrorist attack on the Nord Stream pipelines

The key points:

▪️ It is impossible to give a deadline for completing investigations of terrorist attacks: "The nature of sabotage is unprecedented, and investigations are complex»;

▪️ It is not yet possible to establish whether the attacks were organized by any state or state entity;

▪️ Russia was informed about ongoing investigations;

▪️ There are "no obstacles" to visiting explosion sites;

▪️ Germany announced the presence of a suspicious vessel that could have been used to transport explosives for terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines.

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⚠️ DISTURBING VIDEO

📹 Footage appeared online showing allegedly foreign mercenaries who have been destroyed by the Russian Armed Forces as part of the special military op in Ukraine

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❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces repulsed three attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Karsny Liman. The actions of the sabotage and reconnaissance group were also suppressed. Ukrainian losses amounted to 105 military personnel;

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces hit the command posts of the 24th and 65th Mechanized Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the DPR and the Zaporozhye region;

▪️ Russian air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft in the Kherson region;

▪️ The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 90 fighters, four tanks, as well as the FH-70 gun in a day in the south of the DPR and in the Zaporozhye region;

▪️ Russian air defenses intercepted three Storm Shadow missiles and a HIMARS MLRS projectile, as well as destroying ten UAVs;

▪️ The Russian Army repulsed nine attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the DPR;

▪️ The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 250 fighters and mercenaries, as well as an American counter-battery station during unsuccessful attacks in the DPR;

▪️ Russian troops destroyed more than 50 Ukrainian soldiers and the M777 artillery system in the Kherson region.

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