Day 504 of the Invasion of Ukraine: Closer to NATO than ever

Day 504 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

• Stoltenberg to Zelensky: I can't wait to meet as allies
• "Closer to NATO than ever": the guarantees for Ukraine are from the G-7, Zelensky softened the tone
• The US is discussing the delivery of missiles with a radius of 300 km, which Ukraine wants
• MEPs insisted that Ukraine be accepted as a member of the EU and NATO
• Ukrainian membership will make NATO stronger, Zelensky said
• Training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots begins in August
• Air alert in 5 Ukrainian Oblasts, including Kyiv
• Shoigu: Russia will use cluster bombs in Ukraine as a retaliatory measure
• Ukraine reported the death of a Russian general in Berdiansk
• The first meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council
• Medvedev: Increasing military aid to Ukraine brings World War III closer
• Traces of explosives on a yacht, suspected of being connected to the Nord Stream explosion, were found in Germany

Stoltenberg to Zelensky: I can't wait to meet as allies

The joint press conference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has begun. This is their first public joint statement since the Alliance refused to provide a timeframe and invitation to Ukraine for membership.

Stoltenberg addressed the Ukrainian president, saying that today they stand as equals next to each other and look forward to meeting as allies:

"When President Putin...