INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NATO allies on Wednesday announced they had started transferring F-16 jets to Ukraine while stepping up promises to Kyiv on eventual
membership in the alliance, at a 75th anniversary summit clouded by political uncertainties in the United States.With the pomp of the
three-day gathering in the U.S
keep pace with Russia's military production, which has stepped up sharply in the two years since President Vladimir Putin invaded
formal decision-making body of the alliance, at Washington's convention center as the city sweltered under a heat wave.Biden announced that
struggled to gain parity in the air with Russia.He earlier announced new air defense systems for Ukraine and said the United States had
agreed to place long-range missiles periodically in Germany.In the evening Biden hosted the NATO leaders for a gala dinner, marked by storm
clouds that forced the cancellation of a planned flypast.Biden compared the alliance to his childhood neighborhood, saying: "When a neighbor
needed help, you pitched in
When the bullies threatened the block, you stepped up."U.S
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the F-16 transfer "concentrates Vladimir Putin's mind on the fact that he will not outlast Ukraine,
he will not outlast us."But White House challenger Donald Trump, who is edging out Biden in polls leading up to November's presidential
election, has mused about bringing a quick peace settlement by pushing Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia.The Republican mogul has
United States.'Terror must fail'On the eve of the summit, Russia fired a barrage of missiles on Ukraine, killing dozens, including in Kyiv
where a children's hospital was reduced to debris.Biden invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the summit, who voiced gratitude
for the F-16s.The new aircraft will "bring just and lasting peace closer, demonstrating that terror must fail," Zelensky wrote on social
coordinating arms delivery into Ukraine.In a joint declaration, NATO leaders promised to give Ukraine 40 billion euros ($43 billion) in
months.Trump's aides have also discussed conditioning aid to Ukraine on forcing Kyiv to the negotiating table and said that China, not
Russia, is a larger concern to U.S
interests.The NATO leaders' statement took aim at China as well, voicing "profound concern" over its industrial support to Russia.China's
reaction was swift."NATO should stop hyping up the so-called China threat and provoking confrontation and rivalry, and do more to contribute
to world peace and stability," a spokesman for Beijing's mission to the EU said, adding that "China's position on Ukraine is open and
NATO's role in Asia.'Irreversible' Ukraine path to NATOThe summit also stepped up promises to Ukraine, saying that it was on an
"irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership."Ukraine has for years sought but failed to win membership
in NATO, which as an alliance considers an attack on one an attack on all.But Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have led concerns that
bringing in Kyiv now would effectively be entering war with nuclear-armed Russia as it occupies swathes of Ukrainian territory.U.K
missiles to strike into Russian territory, remarks that drew a rebuke from Moscow.The summit, Starmer told reporters, is showing Putin that
NATO is "bigger now than it's ever been, more united than it's ever been, and absolutely clear-eyed about the threat of Russian aggression."
