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Added on the 22/01/2023 09:27:42 - Copyright : Euronews EN
NATO allies have begun the promised transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to bolster defenses against Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces. "As we speak, the transfer of F-16 jets is underway, coming form Denmark, coming from the Netherlands," Blinken says at a NATO 75th anniversary summit in Washington. SOUNDBITE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns his Nordic allies that "Russia is preparing for provocations in the Baltic region". Zelensky's visit to Stockholm comes days after Sweden pledged military aid of 13.3 billion kronor ($1.25 billion) to Ukraine, which has been struggling against a Russian ground offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region. SOUNDBITE
NATO members have agreed that their established goal of spending two percent of their national output on defence will become a minimum level, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg tells reporters. "Eleven allies now reach or exceed the two percent benchmark," he says at the end of the first day of the NATO summit in Vilnius. "And we expect this number will rise substantially next year. Today, allies made an enduring commitment to invest at least two percent of gross domestic product annually in defence." SOUNDBITE
Tanks, cargo truck with fighters of rebel mercenary Wagner group leave the military headquarters the group had occupied earlier in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin halted the fighters' march on Moscow. IMAGES
Troops from the rebellious Wagner mercenary group are out in force in the city of Rostov-on-Don outside the army headquarters for Russia's southern military district, with passers-by stopping to look at the military vehicles. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin says his troops have taken control of the headquarters, Russia's main command centre for Ukraine operations, as well as an airbase in the city, vowing to topple Moscow's top military leaders. IMAGES
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is hopeful of securing a quick deal to get fighter jets from Western partners, after meeting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Chequers. Zelensky confirms the pair talked about the issue during a meeting at the prime minister's official country retreat northwest of London, adding that he was "very positive" about the prospect of creating a "jets coalition" for the war against Russia. SOUNDBITE