Biden news – live: President skips Nato leadership dinner as White House blames ‘big speech’ prep

President Joe Biden skipped dinner with Nato leaders and headed back to his Lithuania hotel on Tuesday night.

The White House said that the 80-year-old president was instead preparing for his “big speech” to Nato on Wednesday.

Earlier Mr Biden was cracking jokes as he met Nato leaders at a key summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday, joking that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin “alone” can protect Nato while speaking to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

The president also said that he is “looking forward” to welcoming Sweden into the membership after Turkey announced its support for the move.

But, while the meetings were off to a positive start for Mr Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was less impressed.

In a tweet on Tuesday morning, he slammed Nato leaders for not extending membership to Ukraine, calling the inaction “absurd” ahead of a meeting between him and Mr Biden Wednesday.

Last week, Mr Biden approved sending controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine – but also said he thinks Ukraine is “not ready” for membership.

On route to Vilnius on Monday, Mr Biden stopped off in the UK where he appeared to breach royal protocol by touching King Charles III on the back.

Key Points

• Watch as Joe Biden meets King Charles at Windsor Castle

• Biden welcomes Turkey agreeing to back Sweden for NATO

• White House touts America’s ‘revitalized’ alliances during European trip

• Biden hails ‘rock-solid’ US-UK relationship

Despite divisions over Ukraine War, Biden and Zelensky share mutual praise

17:26 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden wants Ukraine to win the war against Russia. But he doesn’t want World War III — especially with nuclear weapons.

Balancing those two goals has been difficult, and the tension was on particular display at the NATO summit in Vilnius this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an emotional, even caustic, demand for a clear path toward joining the alliance.

But Biden, who was to try to showcase NATO’s strength in a sum-up speech Wednesday evening, was not willing to take that step, even as the United States continues to provide more weapons and ammunition than any other country to Ukraine.

The competing priorities in the midst of Europe’s bloodiest war in generations created an undercurrent of friction even as Biden and Zelenskyy projected a united front during their meeting as the summit drew to a close.

Biden and Zelenskyy praise each other despite divisions over Ukraine war

Read President Joe Biden’s G7 remarks in full

17:03 , Oliver O'Connell

After an unscripted thank you to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan for standing up and coming to the aid of Ukraine, President Joe Biden made the following prepared remarks at the close of the G7 meeting at this week’s Nato Summit.

We’ve just concluded the first meeting of the Nato-Ukraine Council and — where all our Allies agreed Ukraine’s future lies with Nato. That’s not a surprise to any of us, I don’t think. I hope it’s not a surprise to you, Mr President.

Allies all agreed to lift the requirements for Membership Action Plan for Ukraine and to create a path to Nato membership while Ukraine continues to make progress on necessary reforms.

But we’re not waiting for that process to be finished to make the long-term commitments that we’re making to Ukraine’s security. Volodymyr and I, we — the — I shouldn’t be so familiar — Mr Zelenskyy and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime when I was in Ukraine and when we met in other places.

And so, today, the long-term commitments we’re making are — are backed up by the notion that in the meantime we’re going to provide security to Ukraine for its needs and against any aggression that may occur.

Today, the members of the G7 are launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine to make it clear that our support will last long into the future.

This starts a process by which each of our nations and any other nation who wishes to participate will negotiate long-term bilateral security commitments with and to Ukraine.

We’re going to help Ukraine build a strong, capable defence across land, air, and sea from which we will force the — it will be a force of stability in the region and deter against any and all threats.

I want to thank my fellow G7 leaders and President Zelenskyy for their work to make this happen. I think it’s a powerful statement — a powerful statement of our commitment to Ukraine as it defends its freedom today and as it rebuilds the future for — and we’re going to be there as long as that takes.

And, again, I thank all my colleagues for their support for this.

Coming up: Biden to give major post-Nato Summit speech in Vilnius

16:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Biden says no question Ukraine welcome in Nato

16:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Full story: G7 support for Ukraine ‘will last long into the future,’ Biden says amid tension over Nato block

16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the joint declaration of support for Ukraine issued by the Group of Seven countries will “make it clear” that support for Kyiv from the world’s largest democracies “will last long into the future”.

Speaking at the Nato summit in Vilnius following the inaugural meeting of the Nato-Ukraine council, Mr Biden said the western nations’ are making long-term commitments to Ukrainian security assistance while Ukraine continues a process that will lead to full membership in the soon-to-be 31-member bloc.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the president’s remarks.

Biden says G7 support for Ukraine ‘will last long into the future’

Watch: National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan previews Biden remarks

16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Biden-Zelensky bilateral meeting emphasises continued cooperation as Ukraine awaits Nato membership

15:37 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden reiterated his earlier comments about Ukraine’s future in a bilateral with President Volodymyr Zelensky, adding praise for the actor-turned-politician who has served as Ukraine’s leader since 2019. Mr Biden said he has “done an enormous job” and promised that the US and its allies would “make sure that you get what you need”.

“And I look forward to the day when we’re having the meetings celebrating your official membership in Nato, so thank you for what you’re doing,” he said.

For his part, Mr Zelensky thanked the US president for his recent decision to provide Kyiv with cluster munitions for use against Russian troops on Ukrainian soil, telling Mr Biden that the move “will help us to save us”.

President Zelensky was asked whether the Nato summit was a success considering his frustration yesterday: “I think by the end of the summit, we have great unity from our leaders and the security guarantees — that is a success for this summit, I think so. It’s my opinion.”

President Biden made a sarcastic swipe at the press when Mr Zelensky was asked how soon after the war he would like to see Ukraine in Nato.

“An hour and twenty minutes,” Mr Biden interjected, adding: “You guys ask really insightful questions.”

WATCH: Zelensky explains why Ukraine cannot be a Nato member

15:20 , Rachel Sharp

Editorial: Ukraine’s place lies in Nato – but the question is still ‘when?’

15:00 , Rachel Sharp

The war has changed Ukraine... it will never willingly be part of a Russian sphere of influence, let alone a Russian empire

Read more here:

Editorial: Ukraine’s future lies in Nato – but the question is still ‘when?’

In other Biden news: GOP cries foul over spy charges for Biden ‘whistleblower’

14:40 , Rachel Sharp

Four days after he claimed a “very credible witness” had emerged to provide the Justice Department with derogatory information about President Joe Biden and his family, House Oversight Committee chair James Comer questioned the timing of charges that the alleged whistleblower was actually spying for the Chinese government and attempting to broker illegal arms sales to Libya.

The alleged unregistered foreign agent, Gal Luft, was arrested in February by authorities in Cyprus on arms trafficking charges, but he subsequently disappeared after jumping bail.

Mr Luft, who is a citizen of both the United States and Israel, is accused of paying a former adviser to Donald Trump on behalf of principals in China in 2016 without registering as a foreign agent.

Read the full story here:

GOP cries foul over spy charges for Biden ‘whistleblower’

Biden says Ukraine’s future lies with Nato and agreements at summit are long term commitment

14:34 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden begins his remarks by praising Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for stepping up his country’s military spending and involvement in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

He then says it comes as no surprise to anyone that Ukraine’s future lies with Nato, highlighting the security arrangements that have been agreed to defend the country.

Mr Biden says the G7 allies will help Ukraine create a strong capable defence across land, air and sea which represents a “long-term commitment” to the country.

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the G7 nations for their support and appeared happier with the results of the summit, despite his earlier disappointment that Ukraine would have to wait to be a member of Nato.

He said that the outcome of the Nato summit is “very much needed” abnd a “meaningful success for Ukraine,” adding that Ukraine will bring home a significant victory and new security opportunities.

Here’s what he said earlier in the day:

WATCH: Biden to deliver remarks with G7 leaders

14:04 , Rachel Sharp

US warns Ukraine entering Nato would lead to ‘war with Russia’

13:40 , Rachel Sharp

The US has warned that Ukraine entering Nato at this point would culminate in “war with Russia”.

Speaking on CNN on Wednesday morning, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: “Every NATO ally, including the United States, needs to look squarely at the fact that admission to Ukraine into NATO at this juncture means war with Russia. That is an inescapable fact.”

He continued: “In the meantime, we’re not just sitting around. We are providing an unbelievable amount of weaponry and military assistance to Ukraine and today, the G7 led by President Biden, will stand up with President Zelensky to announce we’re prepared to provide that security assistance long out into the future, and certainly for the duration of the period while Ukraine is working its way on the pathway towards NATO.”

His comments come ahead of President Joe Biden‘s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit.

IN PICTURES: Biden at NATO-Ukraine Council meeting

13:20 , Rachel Sharp

Zelensky ‘confident’ Ukraine will join Nato after war with Russia is over

13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is confident Ukraine will join Nato after the war is over.

Speaking on Wednesday, he said: “It’s all about the security in the east, the European continent, the eastern flank of Nato, and I believe that Nato needs us just as we need Nato.

“I believe that this is absolutely fair, I am confident that after the war Ukraine will be in Nato.

“We’ll be doing everything possible to make it happen so that we, with the United States... have a same understanding and same vision.”

US official says Ukraine needs to ‘make reforms’ before it can join Nato

12:40 , Rachel Sharp

A US official has said that Ukraine needs to “make a number of reforms” before it can join Nato.

“Ukraine still needs to make a number of reforms in order to join,” National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters in a briefing on Wednesday morning.

“We recognise that Ukraine has already made significant progress in terms of reforms … But as both the President [Joe Biden] has said, and as the communiqué made clear, there is still the need for Ukraine to take further democratic and security sector reforms.

“The President has been clear that we think Ukraine can get there. But that is still going to be a requirement for Ukraine to join.”

Despite the officials’ statements on reform, they offered few details on what those reforms should look like in order for the US to back Ukraine’s membership bid.

Marjorie Taylor brands Nato 'not a reliable partner' as she calls for US to withdraw

12:20 , Rachel Sharp

Meanwhile... Biden’s expletive-laden rants at staffers behind closed doors revealed

12:00 , Rachel Sharp

President Joe Biden is known to privately lose his temper and launch into expletive-filled rants toward his staffers, according to a report from Axios.

The president’s temper is so notorious that some of his staff will not meet with him alone and bring a colleague just for protection.

According to the report, staff say that Mr Biden’s tirades feature him saying “God d***it, how the f*** don’t you know this?!,” “Don’t f***king bullsh*t me!,” “Get the f*** out of here!”

Read more here:

Biden privately loses his temper and yells at staffers, report claims

WATCH: The Independent's Kate Devlin speaks from Nato summit's second day

11:40 , Rachel Sharp

Biden about to appear at Nato-Ukraine council meeting

11:20 , Rachel Sharp

President Joe Biden is about to attend the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Heads of State and Government.

The NATO-Ukraine council meeting was scheduled for 1pm local time (6am ET) but has been delayed until 1.30pm local time (6.30am ET).

According to White House pool: “Before the leaders have arrived, we were positioned on risers to face a crescent table in the center with smaller desks surrounding.

“At the crest of the table was Stoltenberg’s seat, with the Biden’s on the right of him. Next to Biden’s seat is Sunak’s and Zelensky’s is to his right.”

WATCH LIVE: Zelensky speaks at Nato forum on summit's second day

11:04 , Rachel Sharp

Why did Biden skip Nato leaders dinner?

11:00 , Rachel Sharp

Biden skipped the Nato leadership dinner on Tuesday night in Vilnius, Lithuania.

White House officials later cited his busy schedule on his European trip, saying the 80-year-old president chose to instead return to his hotel where he was “preparing for a big speech tomorrow, in addition to another day at the summit”.

Biden’s Nato schedule today

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

10.15am local time (3.15am ET) – Biden attends the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden, Indo-Pacific Partners, and the EU

1pm local time (6am ET) – Biden attends the Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden                      

3.10pm local time (8.10am ET) – President to take part in a family photo with G7 leaders                      

3.45pm local time (8.45am ET) – Biden participates in a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky

7.45pm local time (12.45pm ET) –  Biden to deliver speech  “highlighting how the United States, alongside our allies and partners, are supporting Ukraine, defending democratic values, and taking action to address global challenges”

9.10pm local time (2.10pm ET) – Biden departs Vilnius, Lithuania to travel to Helsinki, Finland

White House official says US will begin negotiations with Ukraine

10:00 , Rachel Sharp

The United States will soon begin negotiations with Ukraine on providing long term security assistance after Western countries announce on Wednesday a broader international framework to support Ukraine.

“G7 leaders agree to enter bilateral negotiations with Ukraine to provide long term security assistance and ensure they have a capable fighting force to deter Russian aggression in the future and provide support for Ukraine’s good governance reforms and strengthen Ukraine’s economy,” a White House official told reporters.

“The US will begin its negotiations with Ukraine soon.”

Biden arrives at Lithuanian Exhibition and Conference Center for day two of Nato summit

09:26 , Rachel Sharp

President Joe Biden has arrived at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Conference Center for day two of the Nato summit.

The presidential motorcade pulled up at the site at around 10.15am local time (3.15am ET).

Among the US staff with him was:

• Ambassador Julianne Smith, U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

• Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary

• Colin Kahl, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy

• Adam Hodge, NSC Acting Senior Director for Press, National Security Council

WATCH LIVE: World leaders meet for Nato summit’s second day in Lithuanian capital Vilnius

08:32 , Rachel Sharp

Fox News host says she’s ‘turned on’ by Biden’s alleged bad temper

Tuesday 11 July 2023 21:01 , Graeme Massie

“Swearing at people, it’s a quirk,” said Lisa Kennedy on Rupert Murdoch’s network.

Fox News host says she’s ‘turned on’ by Biden’s alleged bad temper

Biden skips Nato leadership dinner

Tuesday 11 July 2023 20:04 , Graeme Massie

President Joe Biden skipped the Nato leadership dinner on Tuesday night in Vilnius, Lithuania, with White House officials citing his busy schedule on his European trip.

The 80-year-old president instead returned to his hotel and was “preparing for a big speech tomorrow, in addition to another day at the summit” US officials told reporters.

Read the Nato communique’s key passage on policy toward Ukraine.

Tuesday 11 July 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

We fully support Ukraine’s right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine’s future is in Nato. We reaffirm the commitment we made at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest that Ukraine will become a member of Nato, and today we recognise that Ukraine’s path to full Euro-Atlantic integration has moved beyond the need for the Membership Action Plan. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance, and has made substantial progress on its reform path. In line with the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership between Nato and Ukraine and the 2009 Complement, Allies will continue to support and review Ukraine’s progress on interoperability as well as additional democratic and security sector reforms that are required. Nato Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met.

Biden not attending Nato leaders dinner

Tuesday 11 July 2023 18:26 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden is not attending tonight’s dinner with Nato leaders.

When asked by the press pool why Mr Biden is not attending, a US official said the president has four full days of official business and is preparing for a big speech tomorrow in addition to another day at the summit.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the dinner.

Nato revamped defence plans against Russian attack after Ukraine invasion

Tuesday 11 July 2023 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden and his Nato counterparts on Tuesday endorsed the biggest shakeup since the Cold War of the way the military alliance would respond to any attack on its territory by Russia.

Inspired in part by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the highly-secretive defense plans lay out which of the 31 member countries would be called on to respond to an attack anywhere from the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions through the northern Atlantic and south to the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

“Peace in the Euro-Atlantic area has been shattered,” the leaders said in a statement, laying out the twin threats posed by Russia and terrorism. “Together, this family of plans will significantly improve our ability and readiness to deter and defend against any threats, including on short or no notice, and ensure timely reinforcement of all Allies.”

Read on...

The invasion of Ukraine spurred NATO to revamp its defense plans against Russian attack

Biden reaffirms commitment to ally Lithuania

Tuesday 11 July 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Biden thanks Erdogan for his ‘diplomacy and courage'

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:39 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe thanks President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his “diplomacy and courage” in allowing for Sweden’s accession while the Turkish leader wishes Mr Biden “the best of luck” in his re-election.

Mr Biden laughed: “Well thank you very much. Look forward to meeting you in the next five years.”

Nato says concerned over Iran’s ‘malicious activities' on its territory

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:31 , Martha Mchardy

Nato allies said on Tuesday they were seriously concerned by Iran’s “malicious activities” within allied territory and called Tehran to stop its military support to Russia, including the supply of drones.

“We call upon Iran to cease its military support to Russia, in particular its transfer of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) which have been used to attack critical infrastructure, causing widespread civilian casualties,” the 31-member alliance said in a final declaration at a summit in Lithuania.

“We express our serious concern over Iran’s malicious activities within Allied territory.”

Watch: Biden fist pumps air as Sweden welcomes to Nato

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Stoltenberg: Nato invite to Ukraine when 'allies agree and conditions are met'

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:19 , Martha Mchardy

Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Ukraine will be issued with an invitation to join the alliance “when allies agree and conditions are met”.

He said the process to the country’s membership would move from a two-step to a one-step pathway.

“Ukraine’s future is in Nato”, says declaration, but membership timetable not agreed

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:14 , Martha Mchardy

Nato leaders have agreed at a summit in Vilnius that Ukraine’s future lies within the alliance but stopped short of handing Kyiv the invitation or timetable for accession that the country has been seeking.

At the same time, Nato dropped the requirement for Ukraine to fulfil a so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP), effectively removing a hurdle on Kyiv’s way into the alliance.

“Ukraine’s future is in Nato,” a declaration agreed by the leaders on Tuesday said, adding Kyiv’s Euro-Atlantic integration had moved beyond the need for a Membership Action Plan.

“We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met,” the declaration said.

While leaders did not specify the conditions Ukraine needs to meet, they said the alliance would help Kyiv to make progress on military interoperability as well as on additional democratic and security sector reforms.

Press gathering for Biden-Erdoğan bilateral meeting

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:13 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will soon meet for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Nato meeting in Vilnius.

The White House sent out the following background information ahead of the meeting:

On Monday, after arriving in Vilnius Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, clearing the way for Sweden to join NATO. Erdoğan also spoke with President Charles Michele of the European Council. The meeting was closed press but Michel said on Twitter that they explored opportunities to reenergize EU-Turkey cooperation and bring it back to the forefront.

President Joe Biden, who welcomed Erdogan’s commitment to Sweden’s Nato membership, is scheduled to meet with the President of Turkey at 6:00 PM at the Lithuanian Exhibition and Conference Center. This will be the fourth meeting between President Biden and President Erdoğan. They met on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Brussels in June 2021, during the summit in Madrid in June 2022, and had a pull-aside during G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Before today’s meeting with Biden, Erdoğan held separate meetings with the Prime Minister of the UK Rishi Sunak, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau.

Nato members agree declaration language for Ukraine membership

Tuesday 11 July 2023 16:10 , Martha Mchardy

Nato leaders have reached agreement over how to define their future relationship with Ukraine, including its membership bid, four diplomats said on Tuesday.

One of the diplomats said the final wording on the declaration regarding Ukraine’s future membership read that Nato “will be in a position to extend an invitation to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met.

Sullivan: No caveats on F-16s to Türkiye

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:57 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told a press conference in Vilnius today that there are no caveats on the transfer of F-16s to Türkiye.

“President Biden has been clear & unequivocal for months that he’s supported the transfer of F-16s to Türkiye, that this is in our national interests. It’s in the interests of NATO that Türkiye get that capability. He has placed no caveats or conditions on that in his public and private comments over the past few months. And he intends to move forward with that transfer in consultation with Congress.”

Dutch PM praises UK’s response to war in Ukraine

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:39 , Martha Mchardy

The Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has praised Rishi Sunak and the UK’s leadership in responding to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

In a warm meeting between the two leaders, Mr Sunak said he would “miss” working with the outgoing leader after Mr Rutte announced his plans to leave politics following the collapse of his coalition government.

Addressing his counterpart during a bilateral at the Nato Vilnius summit, the British Prime Minister said: “Mark, we were very sad to hear your news and thank you for your incredible service.”

Mr Rutte responded saying: “I’m not done yet. You are stuck with me at least until the election. Hopefully there will be a new government soon, in the Netherlands it takes a little while.”

Mr Sunak said: “You’ve been a great friend to the UK, so we will miss you. I look forward to continuing our work together particularly as we have stood together, you and I, as have other, to defend and support Ukraine.”

Mr Rutte replied: “And your leadership there, you personally and the UK as a whole, working with you has been incredible.” He said the joint work on the fighter jet coalition to provide Kyiv with war plane capabilities was “fantastic”.

Zelensky lands in Lithuania for Nato summit

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:23 , Martha Mchardy

Volodymyr Zelensky has landed in Vilnius for the Nato summit where alliance members are set to discuss Ukraine’s membership.

The Ukrainian president said on Twitter that he saw “no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to Nato nor to make it a member.”

President Biden cracks joke about Nato

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:14 , Martha Mchardy

President Joe Biden was cracking jokes as he met Nato leaders at a key summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Tuesday.

Speaking to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, he joked that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin “alone” can protect Nato.

“We have the Secretary of Defence with us today. We can send him alone – he’s enough,” he said, before adding on a more serious note that “we’re all in a war together”.

The president also said that he is “looking forward” to welcoming Sweden into the membership after Turkey announced its support for the move.

Rishi Sunak holds bilateral talks with outgoing Dutch PM

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:10 , Martha Mchardy

Stoltenberg: U.S. plays 'indispensable role in European security'

Tuesday 11 July 2023 15:01 , Martha Mchardy

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said the U.S. “plays an indispensable role in European security, including with steadfast support to Ukraine.”

Stoltenberg met with US president Joe Biden at the Nato summit in Lithuania.

Starmer leads Sunak as favoured PM by 10 points

Tuesday 11 July 2023 14:13 , Eleanor Noyce

Meanwhile, voters believe Sir Keir Starmer beats Rishi Sunak on all 17 leadership qualities, polling from Redfield & Wilton Strategies has found.

The Labour leader leads the Tory leader by 10 per cent, his joint-largest lead since Sunak entered No 10 on the question of who would be the better prime minister.

Mr Sunak’s personal approval rating is at minus 16 per cent, its lowest in four months. Labour leader Keir Starmer’s net approval rating stands at 9 per cent, up two points from last week.

Stoltenberg welcomes Biden to summit, thanking him for ‘strong leadership’

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:55 , Eleanor Noyce

In welcoming U.S President Biden to the NATO summit, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has thanked him for his “strong leadership.”

Meanwhile, Biden told Stoltenberg that “I think it’s really important at this critical moment…that you continue to lead NATO. You’re trusted.”

“Your leadership really matters”, he added, expressing that he agreed with the “language you proposed relative to the future of Ukraine joining NATO.”

Summit to deliver ‘robust package of support’ to Ukraine - Blinken

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:21 , Eleanor Noyce

Speaking on Good Morning America, U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed that the summit will deliver “a very robust package of support, both political and practical for Ukraine.”

On Ukraine’s pathway to membership, Blinken said that “work remains to be done in terms of reforming its military and strengthening its democracy.” He added that the NATO alliance is very “unified” and that it is “going to demonstrate in very practical ways its enduring support for Ukraine, including the path to membership.”

On Sweden joining NATO, Blinken said, “Our alliance is stronger, it’s bigger, […] it’s more united than it’s ever been. And among other things, that sends a very strong message to Vladimir Putin that he’s not going to outlast Ukraine, he’s not going to outlast NATO. We’re committed to supporting Ukraine in this war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine. We’re committed to making sure our alliance, our defensive alliance, is as strong as possible in case there’s any further Russian aggression.”

Finland’s foreign minister ‘understands’ concerns over U.S. decision on cluster munitions

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:05 , Martha Mchardy

Finland’s foreign minister has said she “understands” the concerns over the decision by the U.S. to send cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Elina Valtonen said: “I’m not saying it’s a mistake. I do see the concerns relating to that.

“The principle behind it is clear: Helping Ukraine in defending its country,” she said in an interview on the summit’s sidelines.

Biden welcomes Turkey agreeing to back Sweden for NATO

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:05 , Graeme Massie

“I welcome the statement issued by Türkiye, Sweden and the NATO Secretary General this evening, including the commitment by President Erdoğan to transmit the Accession Protocol for Sweden to Türkiye’s Grand National Assembly for swift ratification,” said Joe Biden in a statement on Monday.

“I stand ready to work with President Erdoğan and Türkiye on enhancing defense and deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Kristersson and Sweden as our 32nd NATO Ally. And I thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for his steadfast leadership.”

Nato leaders gather for family photo

Tuesday 11 July 2023 13:00 , Martha Mchardy

NATO expansion marks 'historic moment,' Biden says

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:59 , Martha Mchardy

President Biden has hailed Finland and Sweden’s acceptance into Nato as a “historic moment”.

“This historic moment adding Finland and Sweden to NATO is consequential,” Biden said, speaking alongside Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg at the summit in Vilnius.

The Independent’s Kate Devlin explains topic Nato’s Vilnius summit will discuss

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:49 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak meets Turkish president at Nato summit

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:05 , Martha Mchardy

Mr Sunak’s first bilateral meeting after arriving at the summit was with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It follows a breakthrough with Ankara, brokered by Mr Stoltenberg, to remove Turkey’s objections to Sweden being admitted to Nato.

More images of Joe Biden’s arrival in Lithuania after UK trip

Tuesday 11 July 2023 12:01 , Graeme Massie

President Joe Biden is greeted by Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda as he arrives at Vilnius International Airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, 10 July, 2023.

Rishi Sunak lands in Vilnius for NATO summit

Tuesday 11 July 2023 11:53 , Martha Mchardy

North Korea says U.S. move to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine is 'criminal act'

Tuesday 11 July 2023 11:47 , Martha Mchardy

North Korea’s foreign minister on Tuesday condemned U.S. president Joe Biden’s decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine as a “criminal act” and demanded an immediate withdrawal of the move.

Biden hails ‘rock-solid’ US-UK relationship

Tuesday 11 July 2023 11:06 , Graeme Massie

Joe Biden has hailed the “rock-solid” relationship between the US and the UK as he met Rishi Sunak in Downing Street.

The US President praised the closeness of ties between the two countries as he and the Prime Minister held talks in the garden of No 10.

Mr Biden, whose short layover in London comes ahead of a crunch Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, said the “relationship is rock solid”.

He said he “couldn’t be meeting with a closer friend and a greater ally”, while Mr Sunak hailed the US and UK as “two of the firmest allies” in Nato.

Biden hails ‘rock-solid’ US-UK relationship at Downing Street talks with Sunak

Rishi Sunak defends UK’s defence spending record

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:50 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak defended the Government’s investment in defence amid suggestions the UK could lose influence due to the size of its Army.

The prime minister was asked by broadcasters as he arrived in Vilnius about warnings that Britain’s power could be diminished if the armed forces “gets smaller”.

“I think the UK should be incredibly proud of the leading role that we play not just in Nato, but across the world in protecting security and indeed in investing in our armed forces.”

He said the summit was an opportunity to highlight the “enduring unity and importance” of the “very special” military alliance “which the UK has been at the heart of for the entire time of its existence.”

Sunak claims small boats crackdown going ‘much better than expected’ – despite upturn in crossings

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:44 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak hailed his crackdown on small boats as a “much better result” than expected, despite nearly 700 arrivals on Friday.

The prime minister also said the government “had” to get migrants out of hotels, just hours after it emerged the Home Office is spending more than half a million pounds a day to reserve thousands of empty beds.

Speaking to reporters on his way to the NATO summit in Lithuania, Mr Sunak denied he was wrong to claim his small boats policy was working last month.

The prime minister said he had always predicted that the numbers coming to Britain would rise during the summer.

He said his policy had to be judged on the trends when he took office.

At that stage the numbers were increasing every year, he said.

“The fact that they (numbers) are down for five months of the year, the fact that they are still down, even if it’s less, than what people are expecting is a much better result than anyone was expecting,” he said.

He added: “We need to get people out of hotels, we need to save the taxpayer billions. We need to get the backlog down.

But fundamentally we need to do what it compassionate and fair.”

He said he did not think a system where people were dying in the channel in their bid to get to Britain was one that should “persist”.

But he added: “it’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to happen overnight”.

PM heads to Nato summit to urge allies to hike defence spending

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:33 , Martha Mchardy

Rishi Sunak is attending a Nato summit in Vilnius today where he will urge allies to hike defence spending to “deter the kind of tactics Putin has used in Ukraine”.

The prime minister will make a renewed call for all members of the alliance to commit to spending 2 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, telling allies that hiking defence spending will make Nato’s armed forces “more lethal and more deployable”.

Downing Street said that last year, fewer than half of those in the alliance were meeting the expenditure target, with only nine out of 30 members spending at least 2 per cent.

No 10 said the prime minister is travelling to the summit with a dual message of strengthening Nato and stressing the need to continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invading troops.

Mr Sunak said: “We have witnessed the most terrible crimes and human tragedies in Ukraine.

“But we have also seen the Nato alliance come together like never before in support of Ukraine and with firm determination that Russia cannot succeed. That is work we need to continue.”

King Charles appears to lose patience with guard

Tuesday 11 July 2023 10:02 , Graeme Massie

The US president was speaking to a palace guard when King Charles tried to hurry him up.

But Mr Biden appeared to ignore The King who then rebuked a guard.

The US president also risked breaking protocol by grabbing Charle's arm as they shook hands and later putting his hand on his back during their lap of the quadrangle.

In pictures: Biden meets Lithuanian President Gitanas ahead of Nato summit

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:20 , Martha Mchardy

Watch live as Biden meets with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda before Nato summit

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:17 , Martha Mchardy

Watch live as high-level speakers address a series of panel events at a forum organised by Nato on the margins of its leaders’ summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Earlier on Tuesday (11 July), Joe Biden met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda for an official welcome ceremony at the presidential palace.

His welcome was followed by a bilateral meeting before the summit, which will centre on Ukraine and its bid to join the defence alliance.

Watch live as high-level speakers address Nato forum on margins of summit

King Charles and Joe Biden pictured inside Windsor Castle

Tuesday 11 July 2023 09:01 , Graeme Massie

In pictures: Members of the Welsh Guard prepare for Biden and King Charles meeting

Tuesday 11 July 2023 07:58 , Graeme Massie

Yellen says US, China want to ‘stabilise’ relationship

Tuesday 11 July 2023 07:30 , Namita Singh

US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said she believes the United States and China want to stabilise their economic ties with “candour” and “respect.”

Ms Yellen told American Public Media’s Marketplace in an interview taped shortly before her departure from Beijing on Sunday that she believed her trip, during which both sides discussed “significant disagreements,” had succeeded in putting a floor under the relationship.

“There are challenges, but I believe there is a desire on both sides to stabilise the relationship and to constructively address problems that each of us see in our relationship, to do so frankly, with candour, with respect and to build a productive relationship going forward,” she said.

Ms Yellen told Marketplace that the visit had been constructive and allowed her to make clear that US export controls and other actions were motivated by national security concerns and to diversify supply chains, not to gain unfair economic advantage.

“I spent many hours with my counterpart going through in detail our concerns and addressing them and making clear that they have an open channel of communication,” Ms Yellen said.

Both sides, she said, agreed to “maintain open channels of communication and deepen our discussion of concerns that one another have.”

In pictures: Joe Biden meets with King Charles at Windsor Castle

Tuesday 11 July 2023 07:09 , Graeme Massie

Nato secretary general reiterates commitment to provide Ukraine membership in the group

Tuesday 11 July 2023 06:30 , Namita Singh

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg reiterated that Ukraine will eventually become a member of Nato, a commitment made in 2008 under president George W Bush, but the Nato chief did not outline more specifics.

He wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday that the alliance would “upgrade our political ties” by forming a Nato-Ukraine Council, which would be “a platform for decisions and crisis consultation”.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the summit on Wednesday. He plans to meet with US president Joe Biden while there, according to two administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not been announced.