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Added on the 20/01/2023 10:49:15 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
The White House warns that time is running out to fund Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, after hardline Republicans in Congress blocked US aid for Kyiv. 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
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
On a surprise visit to Finland to participate in a summit gathering the leaders of the five Nordic nations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he believes "that this year will be decisive for us, for Ukraine, for Europe, decisive for victory". Zelensky's remarks come at a press conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, whose country became NATO's newest member in April in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. SOUNDBITE
International support for Ukraine remains "strong and true" more than a year into Kyiv's battle against invading Russian forces, says US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at a meeting of dozens of Kyiv's supporters at the Ramstein air base in Germany. SOUNDBITE