Russia-Ukraine updates: Russian missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities

Dozens of injuries were reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Last Updated: September 6, 2023, 11:47 AM EDT

Russia has continued a nearly 19-month-long invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Recently, though, the Ukrainians have gone on a counteroffensive, fighting to reclaim occupied territory.

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Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jul 11, 2023, 11:53 AM EDT

Ukraine will get invite to join NATO 'when all the allies agree,' secretary general says

Ukraine will get an invitation to join NATO when all the allies agree and all the conditions are met, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a press conference from the NATO summit in Vilinus, Lithuania, on Tuesday.

NATO agreed to remove the required membership action plan, he added, which makes the process take only one step instead of two.

A NATO-Ukraine Council will also be launched, Stoltenberg announced. The first session is planned for Wednesday with participation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said.

Zelenskyy had criticized the process for joining NATO ahead of his trip to Lithuania, saying, "It’s unprecedented and absurd when timeframe is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership."

-ABC News' Fidel Pavlenko

Jul 11, 2023, 7:41 AM EDT

Zelenskyy pushes for NATO membership invite ahead of summit

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again called on Tuesday for NATO to invite Ukraine to become a member, offering a strongly worded statement as the coalition leaders gathered for a summit in Lithuania.

Ukraine "deserves respect," Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on Twitter.

PHOTO: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak and other NATO leaders, in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023.
NATO PHOTO: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak and other NATO leaders, in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023.
Yves Herman/Reuters

"It's unprecedented and absurd when time frame is not set neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership," he said. "While at the same time vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine. It seems there is no readiness neither to invite Ukraine to NATO nor to make it a member of the Alliance."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, President Biden, Lithuanian President Nauseda, British Prime Minster Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, Turkish President Recep Erdogan and others ahead of a NATO leaders summit, in Lithuania July 11, 2023.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, President Joe Biden, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, other NATO leaders and other officials stand for a family photo, ahead of a NATO leaders summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania July 11, 2023.
Yves Herman/Reuters

Keeping Ukraine out of NATO amounts to a "motivation" for Russia to "continue its terror," he said.

"Uncertainty is weakness," he added.

Russia rebutted the statement a short while later.

"This is potentially very dangerous for European security. Indeed, it is fraught with great dangers, and those who will make this decision should be aware of that," Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said when asked to comment on Ukraine's possible fast-track admission to the coalition.

Jul 10, 2023, 5:17 PM EDT

Biden to meet with Zelenskyy at NATO summit

President Joe Biden will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania this week, an administration official told ABC News.

The meeting comes as Zelenskyy pushes for a spot in NATO, despite Biden's public comments this weekend that he doesn't think that's the right move at this moment.

Biden has instead suggested a relationship similar to Israel and the U.S., with strong security commitments.

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett and Molly Nagle

Jul 10, 2023, 3:33 PM EDT

Turkey agrees to advance Sweden's bid to join NATO

Turkey and Sweden have reached a deal to advance the latter country's bid to join NATO, according to NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg.

"This is an historic step which makes all #NATO Allies stronger & safer," Stoltenberg tweeted along with a photo of him and the two leaders shaking hands.

Turkey and Sweden have agreed to work on "legitimate security concerns," according to NATO.

PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (L) shakes hands with the Secretary General of NATO Stoltenberg (R) during their meeting ahead of the NATO members and partner countries heads of state from July 11-12 to chart the alliance's future.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shakes hands with the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg (R) during their meeting ahead of the NATO members and partner countries heads of state from July 11-12 to chart the alliance's future, with Sweden's application for membership and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine as major topics on the summit agenda.
Filip Singer - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Sweden has resumed arms exports with Turkey and "will present a roadmap as the basis of its continued fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," according to NATO.

The two countries agreed to set up economic cooperation through the Türkiye-Sweden Joint Economic and Trade Committee, NATO said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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