Live: Ukraine war at centre of ‘pivotal’ NATO summit in Madrid

Issued on: 29/06/2022 – 07:20

8:15am: NATO to invite Finland, Sweden to join after Turkey lifts objections

NATO leaders will formally invite Finland and Sweden to join the alliance Wednesday after the two Nordic countries reached an agreement with Turkey, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday. FRANCE 24’s Joseph Keen reports:

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7:40am: At least three killed in Russian missile strike in Mykolaiv

At least three people were killed and five wounded by a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Ukraine’s southern city of Mykolaiv on Wednesday, said local authorities who have launched a rescue effort for survivors.

Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych said eight missiles had hit the city and urged residents to evacuate. He said the building appeared to have been hit by a Russian X-55 cruise missile.

7:15am: Madrid summit pivotal for alliance’s future, says NATO chief

More than 40 leaders will gather for what NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called a “pivotal summit” for the alliance’s future. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to participate and will speak twice via videolink, as Kyiv pushes for accelerated weapons deliveries from its allies. 

NATO countries, which have already committed billions of dollars in military assistance to Kyiv, will agree on a “comprehensive assistance package to Ukraine, to help them uphold the right for self-defence”, said Stoltenberg.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)