Yahoo News $50bn loan shows West is not ‘backing down’ to Putin, Biden says
Today’s $50 billion loan to Ukraine shows Vladimir Putin we are “not backing down”, Joe Biden said at the G7 Summit in Italy.
Speaking alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, Mr Biden said he was “very pleased” with the loan, which is secured against $260 billion in frozen Russian assets.
“To put that money to work for Ukraine [is] another reminder to Putin we’re not backing down. In fact, we’re standing together against this illegal aggression,” he said.
Mr Biden also announced that the US had signed a 10-year security pact with Ukraine to continue training Ukrainian troops, providing weapons and increase intelligence sharing.
“Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defence and deterrence capabilities for the long term,” he declared. However, the agreement may be undone by a future president because it is an executive order rather than a formal treaty.
Mr Biden said: “A lasting peace for Ukraine must be underwritten by Ukraine’s own ability to defend itself now, and to deter future aggression, anytime in the future.”
“The United States going to ensure that Ukraine can do both, not by sending American troops to fight in Ukraine, but by providing weapons and ammunition, expanding intelligence sharing, continuing to train brave Ukrainian troops at bases in Europe and the United States.
“Interoperability between our militaries in line with Nato standards, investing in Ukraine’s defence industrial base so in time, in time, they can supply their own weapons and munitions.”
Volodymyr Zelensky said that fighter squadrons would be sent to aid the Ukrainian war effort as part of the security agreement.
“The agreement has good provisions on weapons for our defence... very specifically on the supply of fighter squadrons to Ukraine,” he said.
“That’s right, plural - squadrons. Including, but not limited to F-16s. We have worked for a long time for these.”
The 10-year pact will last not just for the “duration of this war, but also, also for the period of peace after the war,” he added. “And we will definitely ensure peace.”
09:05 PM BST
That’s all for now
Today’s live blog has closed. Thank you for following today’s coverage of the developments from Ukraine, along with the G7 summit getting underway in Italy. Main headlines today include:
Joe Biden announced a security pact between the US and Ukraine
Rishi Sunak hailed a $50 billion loan to Ukraine as “game-changing”
Biden revealed plans to target countries supplying the Russian war effort
Volodymyr Zelensky said “fighter squadrons” would be delivered to Ukraine
Biden was expected to skip dinner with world leaders
08:50 PM BST
Europe bows to US pressure to agree $50bn loan for Ukraine
European leaders bowed to American pressure and agreed a $50 billion loan deal for Ukraine on Thursday using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets.
G7 leaders in Italy announced that Ukraine would receive a major financial boost by the end of the year, as Western countries try to placate Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of next month’s Nato summit.
Under the deal, returns from $320 billion in frozen Russian central bank assets will be used to secure a loan of $50 billion, which can be used by Ukraine for its military or economic recovery.
Read the full story from Tony Diver and Daniel Martin here.
08:35 PM BST
Pictured: Biden and Zelensky shake hands after signing security pact
08:14 PM BST
Biden: Ukraine is our priority for air defences
Countries that want Patriot missile systems and other air defence systems will have to wait until “Ukraine’s needs are met,” Joe Biden said.
The US President said Ukraine is the priority for its converted weapons “and then after that we will make good on the commitments we’ve made to other countries.”
08:01 PM BST
Zelensky: Thank you America
Volodymyr Zelensky concluded: “I would also like to thank the United States Congress for their support - both parties, both chambers. Thank you, and thanks to every American heart that does not betray freedom and supports us.”
08:00 PM BST
Zelensky: Fighter squadrons are being sent to Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelensky said: “The agreement has good provisions on weapons for our defence... very specifically on the supply of fighter squadrons to Ukraine.
“That’s right, plural squadrons, including, but not limited to F-16s. We have worked for a long time for these.”
The agreement also includes sanctions “make Russian feel the pain”, Mr Zelensky said.
07:58 PM BST
US-Ukraine pact ‘will last after the war is over’
A 10-year security pact between the US and Ukraine will last not just for the “duration of this war, but also, also for the period of peace after the war,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“And we will definitely ensure peace,” he added.
07:56 PM BST
Zelensky: US-Ukraine agreement ‘guarantees sustainable peace’
Volodymyr Zelensky said: “This is an agreement on steps to guarantee sustainable peace. And therefore it benefits everyone in the world, because the Russian war against Ukraine is a real global threat.
“I thank you very much, Mr President, for your leadership, which is reflected in particular in this agreement. And in your years of support for Ukraine.”
07:55 PM BST
We will target Russian war suppliers, says Biden
Three key measures have been agreed at the G7 summit to support Ukraine, Joe Biden said.
He continued: “A bilateral security agreement just signed. Second, historic agreement provide $50 billion in value from Russian sovereign asset to Ukraine.
“And third, and agreement to ensure sanctions efforts, disrupt, third countries that are supplying Russia’s war effort.”
He added: “Collectively this is a powerful set of actions.”
07:53 PM BST
Biden: We’re not backing down
The $50 billion loan to Ukraine is a reminder “to Putin we’re not backing down - in fact, we’re standing together against this illegal aggression,” Joe Biden said.
He cut off while talking about support for Ukraine while an aircraft passed overhead.
07:51 PM BST
Biden announces security pact with Ukraine
Joe Biden announces he has signed a security agreement with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defence and deterrence capabilities for the long term,” he said.
“A lasting peace for Ukraine must be underwritten by Ukraine’s own ability to defend itself now, and to deter future aggression.”
This will be by “providing weapons and ammunition expanding intelligence training, sharing, continuing to train brave Ukrainian troops at bases in Europe and the United States.
“Interoperability between our militaries in line with NATO standards, investing in Ukraine’s defence industrial base so in time, in time, they can supply their own weapons and munitions, working with Ukraine’s partners to build a future force that is strong sustainable and resilient.”
07:47 PM BST
Biden one hour late to press conference
It’s now an hour since Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky were due to appear on stage together for a joint press conference.
The White House suggested earlier today that Mr Biden would be skipping a G7 meal with world leaders, having flown in late Wednesday evening.
07:24 PM BST
Zelensky: Britain and Ukraine are united against Russia
We will do whatever it takes to end Putin's illegal war.
That's why Ukraine welcomes Britain's commitment to continuing to support Ukraine's military, economy and people.
In an increasingly uncertain world, Britain and Ukraine are united in wanting a secure future for our… pic.twitter.com/URGC3z52bN— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 13, 2024
07:13 PM BST
Biden and Zelensky expected soon
Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky should appear at the G7 for a joint press conference soon. They were initially scheduled to appear at 6:45pm BST (7:45pm local time).
06:49 PM BST
Biden to skip dinner with world leaders at G7 summit
Joe Biden, the US President, is expected to skip a dinner this evening with world leaders at the G7 in Italy.
It comes after member states agreed to provide a $50 billion (£39 billion) loan to Ukraine for its for military, economic and humanitarian needs, as well as reconstruction after more than two years at war.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said Mr Biden will have a “jam-packed two days” and that reporters should not “read too much” into the president’s choice not to attend.
Mr Biden, 81, arrived in Italy late yesterday after an almost eight-hour flight, and follows his visit to France last week for the anniversary of D-Day and a state visit to Paris.
It is the fourth time that the US President – who frequently has to fend off questions about his age on the campaign trail as he faces re-election – has avoided or left early from a dinner with fellow world leaders, according to US broadcaster CNN.
He is expected to hold a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, later today.
06:48 PM BST
Sunak: Ukraine loan is ‘game-changing’
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said of the $50 billion loan to Ukraine:
What we’re announcing is a game-changing package of support for Ukraine that will be funded from the G7, and it will be funded by the profits on the seized Russian assets.
It’s fantastic news, it’s something that I personally and the UK have been leading on and championing for some time now. So to get it over the line is obviously great news.
And it just demonstrates the G7 is completely united in doing whatever it can and whatever it takes to support Ukraine to defend against Russian aggression.
The money is provided by the G7 as a loan and then secured against the profits of the assets that have been immobilised.
06:32 PM BST
Reports: US to sign security pact with Ukraine
The US is expected to sign a security pact with Ukraine later today, agreeing to train Ukrainian troops and provide military assistance over the next 10 years.
Washington will also undertake to cooperate more closely in producing weapons and military equipment, along with intelligence sharing, US media reports.
As an executive agreement, it will not be binding on future administrations and could theoretically be undone by a future president. A formal treaty arrangement would need to be ratified by the Senate.
06:21 PM BST
What has the G7 agreed on the $50 billion Ukraine loan?
The G7 has agreed to send a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, which is being secured against the profits from $260 billion in Russian assets frozen in Europe countries.
Kyiv is expected to receive the first payment later this year, and can use it for military, economic and humanitarian needs as well as reconstruction from its two years at war with Russia.
The deal will be included in the G7 leaders’ communique on Friday, on the second day of their summit in the Puglia region of Italy.
The move overcomes any legal hurdles that countries might have faced from directly confiscating Russian assets and sending them to Europe - a move that has constantly debated since Moscow’s invasion in February 2022.
Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, said the loan would “provide the necessary resources to Ukraine now for its economic energy and other needs, so that it’s capable of having the resilience necessary to withstand Russia’s continuing aggression.”
06:05 PM BST
Pictured: Sunak meets with Zelensky at G7 summit
02:39 PM BST
Two Russian state journalists hurt on Ukraine’s front lines
Two journalists covering the Ukraine conflict for Russian state-controlled media were seriously wounded by Ukrainian shelling on Thursday, Moscow’s NTV television station claimed.
A Russian officer accompanying them was also injured in the incident in Golmivskyi, a Russian-controlled village close to the front lines in the eastern Donetsk region.
“During shelling by Ukrainian forces ... NTV correspondent Alexey Ivliyev and cameraman Valery Kozhin were wounded,” NTV said in a statement.
The two were transferred to a hospital where they were undergoing surgery, it added.
02:22 PM BST
Pictured: Zelensky meets Meloni
Volodymyr Zelensky gave Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, a warm greeting upon his arrival at the G7 on Thursday.
01:52 PM BST
Russian and Cuban foreign ministers to hold talks
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with his Cuban counterpart later on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
The talks come a day after a Russian navy frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine entered the harbour in the Cuban capital Havana, a stopover the US and Cuba said posed no threat but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war.
01:27 PM BST
‘No need’ for US to worry about Russian warships in Cuba
The Kremlin has said there is no reason for any country, including the United States, to be worried about the presence of Russian warships in Cuba on an exercise.
A Russian navy frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine churned into Havana harbour on Wednesday, a stopover the US and Cuba said posed no threat but which was widely seen as a Russian show of force as tensions rise over the Ukraine war.
Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said there was no evidence of Russia transferring any missiles to Cuba, but that the US would remain vigilant.
When asked about purported nervousness in Washington over the fear that Russia could transfer military personnel to Cuba or even create a military base on the island, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said such exercises were common practice.
“This is a normal practice for all states, including such a large maritime power as Russia,” Mr Peskov told reporters. “So we don’t see any reason to worry in this case.”
12:55 PM BST
Russia’s ties to North Korea ‘should not be challenged’
Russia’s right to develop closer ties with North Korea should not be challenged by anyone, the Kremlin has said, adding the potential for the two countries’ relations was very deep.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, made the comments to reporters when asked about Western fears that Moscow may revise its policy towards Pyongyang due to Western pressure on Russia over Ukraine and, in particular, may transfer missile and nuclear technology to it.
“It is our neighbour, it is a friendly country with which we are developing bilateral relations. We will continue to do so in an upward direction,” said Mr Peskov.
“The potential for the development of our relations is very deep. We believe that our right to develop good relations with our neighbours should not be of concern to anyone and cannot and should not be challenged by anyone”.
12:35 PM BST
Kremlin says Nato decision to coordinate arms deliveries to Ukraine changes nothing
The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed a decision taken the day before by Nato to begin coordinating arms deliveries to Ukraine, saying it would change nothing and that Moscow already knew that Nato countries were sending weapons to Ukraine.
11:54 AM BST
Pictured: Soldiers on the frontline
Ukrainian servicemen of the 33rd Separate Mechanised Brigade have been photographed during a military drill near a frontline in the Donetsk region.
11:21 AM BST
Russia says tactical nuclear drills involved dummy warheads
Russia’s tactical nuclear drills have involved the delivery of dummy nuclear warheads to forward storage units and airfields, the defence ministry said on Thursday.
11:08 AM BST
Zelensky says expects ‘important decisions’ at G7 summit
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian president, said on Thursday he was expecting “important decisions” at a G7 summit in Italy, where he will also sign security agreements with Japan and the United States.
The G7 is set to discuss a major deal that could unlock a $50 billion loan for Kyiv, secured against future profits from Russian funds that have been frozen in Western jurisdictions as punishment for its invasion.
“A large part of [the summit] will be devoted to Ukraine, our defence and economic resilience. And we are expecting important decisions today,” Mr Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.
The G7 countries have been Ukraine’s key military and financial backers since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Mr Zelensky also said he would sign two more security agreements with Tokyo and Washington on the sidelines of the summit.
10:51 AM BST
Russian missile attack kills nine in Zelensky’s home town
Nine people were killed and 29 injured, including five children, after a Russian ballistic missile struck Ukraine’s southern city of Kryvyi Rih.
It was the deadliest attack to strike Ukraine in weeks, destroying an administrative building and an apartment block on Wednesday, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.
Commenting on the attack, President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Every day and every hour, Russian terror proves that Ukraine, together with its partners, should strengthen air defences.”
Kryvyi Rih is his hometown.
One man could be seen being carried out of the rubble on a stretcher in a video shared by Mr Zelensky.
Firefighters battled blazes and rescuers heaved a block of concrete in the ruins. Mr Klymenko said recovery work was now complete.
10:19 AM BST
Pictured: Russia practices missile drills
Photographs have emerged of Russia conducting drills on how to deploy nuclear weapons on Thursday, practising the electronic launch of missiles.
09:57 AM BST
Ukraine’s foreign minister welcomes US sanctions on Russia
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, said on Thursday he welcomed a new set of US sanctions imposed on Russia.
He particularly praised the measures taken against its defence industrial base.
We strongly welcome the new sweeping set of U.S. sanctions on Russia and anyone else willing to aid Russia's war effort.
Given the loud whines of the Russian regime's top propagandists, these measures strike right where it hurts.
We particularly applaud tough measures against…— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 13, 2024
“We particularly applaud tough measures against Russia‘s defence-industrial base and its access to technology and resources abroad,” he wrote on X.
“Any entity assisting Russia in the production of weapons must be subjected to the most intense pressure.”
09:40 AM BST
Eight EU countries call for restricting Russian diplomats’ movement
Eight European Union foreign ministers called on the EU to ban Russian diplomats from moving freely around the bloc and restrict them to countries where they are accredited, in a letter to EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
“Free movement of holders of Russian diplomatic and service passports, accredited in one host state, across the whole Schengen area is easing malign activities,” according to the letter, dated June 11, seen by Reuters.
The ministers said that intelligence, propaganda “or even preparation of sabotage acts are the main workload for a large number of Russian ‘diplomats’ in the EU”, and while expulsions were important, the threat remained.
“We believe the EU should strictly follow the reciprocity principle and restrict the movement of members of Russian diplomatic missions and their family members to territory of a state of their accreditation only,” they said.
“This measure will significantly narrow operational space for Russian agents,” added the letter, which was signed by ministers from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.
09:19 AM BST
Listen: Ukraine The Latest
Listen to the newest episode of our podcast Ukraine: The Latest below:
09:02 AM BST
Russia ‘deliberately starved’ Ukrainian civilians
Civilians in Mariupol were “deliberately starved” by Russian forces as a tactic of war, a new report has claimed.
Global Rights Compliance found that troops targeted water and food supplies and medical facilities before taking the strategic port city in 2022.
It examined satellite imagery that showed evidence of targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure in the city and relate to the first 85 days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine before the fall of Mariupol.
08:40 AM BST
Good progress made on Russian asset plan, US says
Good progress has been made on international efforts to unlock the value of frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday, adding he hoped for agreement by the time G7 leaders meet.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy nations were more unified than ever on major issues, including Chinese industrial overcapacity, Mr Sullivan said, ahead of the opening of the G7 summit in southern Italy later on Thursday.
08:20 AM BST
Sunak to announce up to £242 million in Ukraine aid
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce up to £242 million in fresh assistance for Ukraine at the G7 summit in Italy set to open on Thursday, his office said.
Ukraine is expected to be top of the agenda at the gathering in Puglia, where President Volodymyr Zelensky will join G7 leaders seeking to seal a deal on using frozen Russian assets to help his war-torn country.
At the summit, Mr Sunak “will announce up to £242 million ($310 million) in bilateral assistance to Ukraine, to support immediate humanitarian, energy and stabilisation needs, and lay the foundations for longer term” recovery, the prime minister’s office said in a statement Wednesday night.
“This funding demonstrates the UK’s continued international solidarity with Ukraine, and our flexibility in responding to immediate needs created by Russian aggression,” it added, noting recent Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.
The statement added that Sunak would work with other leaders at the G7 to find a way to use frozen Russian funds to assist Ukraine.
“We must be decisive and creative in our efforts to support Ukraine and end Putin’s illegal war at this critical moment,” Sunak was quoted as saying.
08:07 AM BST
Pictured: Emergency workers in Kryvyi Rih
Nine people were killed and 29 injured, including five children, after a Russian ballistic missile struck Ukraine’s southern city of Kryvyi Rih.
07:56 AM BST
Record 120 million people forcibly displaced globally
A staggering total of 120 million people are living forcibly displaced by war, violence and persecution, the UN said on Thursday, branding the ever-increasing number a “terrible indictment on the state of the world”.
The United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR said forced displacement globally had once again smashed records, with conflicts in places like Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar forcing even more people to flee their homes.
The global displaced population is now equivalent to that of Japan, it pointed out in a statement.
“Conflict remains a very, very big driver of mass displacement,” UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi told reporters.
At the end of last year, 117.3 million people were displaced, UNHCR said in a report.
And by the end of April, the number had swelled further, with an estimated 120 million people around the world living in displacement.
07:46 AM BST
Russia practised electronic missile launches during tactical nuclear drills
Russia practised the electronic launch of missiles as part of a second stage of drills on how to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, the defence ministry said.
“As part of the second stage of the exercises of non-strategic nuclear forces, the personnel of a Leningrad Military District missile unit worked out combat training tasks for covertly advancing to the designated positional area and carried out electronic missile launches against conditional enemy targets,” the defence ministry said.
“The personnel involved in the exercise navy crews carried out sea trips to the designated patrol area.”
President Vladimir Putin ordered the drills after what Russia said were threats from the West, including signals from Western officials that they would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with Western weapons.
Footage released by the defence ministry showed Russian sailors focusing on a dummy target and then counting down to launch, including pressing the “launch” button.
