We're closing our Nato summit live coverage. Thank you for joining us over the past two days.

Image source, Reuters

The Nato summit has now drawn to a close in Lithuania after two days.

Here's a round-up the biggest developments from the summit:

• Nato states said Ukraine can join the military alliance "when allies agree and conditions are met"
• The alliance said it recognised the need to move faster but would not be drawn on a timeframe
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the "absurd" delay to accession on Tuesday, saying there seemed to be "no readiness" to invite Ukraine to Nato
• But things simmered down today as Zelensky said Nato had given a powerful signal to Russia that Ukraine will be an independent state
• This was followed by UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace saying "people want to see gratitude" from Ukraine, in relation to Western aid
• He said he told the Ukraine government last year that "we're not Amazon" after a weapons request
• UK PM Rishi Sunak sought to downplay the comments, saying Zelensky has expressed his gratitude on a "number of occasions"
• The summit finished with US President Joe Biden stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin "wrongly believes he can outlast Ukraine"

Image source, EPA

Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that Germany will continue to support Kyiv for as long as necessary.

At a press conference earlier in Vilnius, Scholz said that the security pledges from the G7 group of countries were a long-term strategy that Kyiv can rely on.

Earlier in the summit, Germany agreed to provide more US-made Patriot air defence launchers to Ukraine.

Much has been made about the Membership Action Plan (MAP), which Nato has agreed to waive for Ukraine to join to the alliance.

But what is it?

• The MAP is a series of political and military steps prospective Nato members must take which are meant to bring them in line with alliance standards
• It can take years to complete, and
• It does not guarantee membership

Prospective countries must be able to show that they have fulfilled the following requirements before being unanimously invited to join Nato:

• be a functioning democracy based on a market economy
• fairly treat minority populations
• show a commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts
• have the ability and willingness to contribute to Nato operations
• have their military firmly under civilian control

Image source, Reuters

Ukraine is closer to Nato now than in 2008, when the alliance said that Kyiv could join at a future date, Polish President Andrzej Duda has said.

He said that there was no comparison with what had been decided regarding Ukraine 15 years ago. This is despite Ukrainian frustrations that details on when it can join Nato have still not been made clear.

"The bar was set high...we raised this Ukrainian expectation that a formal invitation to an alliance be issued for Ukraine," Duda told a news conference earlier on Wednesday.

"Such a far-reaching decision has not been made, but a whole series of decisions have been made regarding Ukraine, undoubtedly bringing Ukraine closer to Nato."

Let's briefly step away from the Nato summit to look at reports that Russia dispatched a fighter jet to prevent a Norwegian war plane from violating its border over the Barents Sea.

The Russian crew identified the Norwegian patrol aircraft which turned away from the border when the Russian jet approached, the defence ministry said in a statement.

It is not immediately clear how close the aircraft came to each other.

"The flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters, without crossing air routes or dangerously approaching an aircraft of a foreign state," the statement said.

Norway, a Nato member, has a short Arctic land border with Russia.

Biden finishes by saying he has "never, ever in my entire career been more optimistic about the prospects of the future".

"God bless you all and god bless the protectors of freedom in Ukraine, here and in every nation in the world," he adds.

He finishes to chants of "USA" from Lithuanian students.

Biden is speaking about the big issues facing the world, such as climate change and technological advances - saying they can only be addressed together.

Will we staunch the climate crisis before it's too late, he asks, calling it the single greatest threat to humanity.

He adds that the visions of "freedom we cherish are not just empty words", but instead a plan of action the world can reach "if we work together".

Biden is now speaking about Ukraine.

He says the people of Ukraine "remain unbroken".

"Ukraine remains free," he adds.

He says he just spent an hour with President Zelensky.

On Russia, he says "one country cannot be allowed to seize its neighbour's territory by force".

Russia could end the war tomorrow, he says.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "wrongly believes he can outlast Ukraine", he adds.

Biden laughs at himself as he trips over the words celebrating Nato's soon-to-be 32-strong membership.

Finland was welcomed into the alliance in April, and Sweden will imminently join the alliance.

He applauds Turkey's Erdogan for supporting Sweden's bid to join.

Biden begins by applauding Baltic freedom and Lithuania.

He references the January Events - a series of confrontations in 1991 between the population of Lithuania, supporting independence, and the Soviet Armed Forces.

The "brothers and sisters in Estonia and Latvia" became a symbol for Europe's future, he says.

He then applauds Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.

"You got a great president," he says, to a standing ovation.

Horns are blowing, bells are ringing and the Vilnius venue is decked out with US flags at the Nato summit to welcome US President Joe Biden to the dais.

Image source, Getty Images

We’re expecting US President Joe Biden to deliver an address in the next few minutes.

Biden reportedly skipped dinner with Nato leaders last night to prepare for this “big speech”, as termed by the White House.

Biden is expected to highlight how the United States and its allies are supporting Ukraine in the war.

Stay with us for what he says.

President Zelensky asserts that Ukraine would never exchange any of its territory in a bargain, “even if its only one village with a population of one older man”.

Speaking at a press conference following the Nato summit in Vilnius, he says he is certain Ukraine's allies would not betray them with such a condition to join Nato, but adds that all partners know Kyiv's stance.

Zelensky adds that the Nato summit has brought a Ukrainian victory closer.

He lauds the promises of more weapons systems, external from Kyiv's partners, saying "the power of the weapon always makes victory closer on the battlefield" and said that he met with President Biden for twice as long as planned.

The press conference is now over. We're expecting to hear from President Biden soon.

Image source, EPA

We're just hearing from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at another press conference.

He is pressed by a reporter for his thoughts on the UK asking Ukraine to show more gratitude for their support in the war against Russia.

Zelensky said: "I believe that we were always grateful to the United Kingdom, we were always grateful to the prime minister, and to the minister of defence."

He then directly refers to UK defence secretary Ben Wallace's comments from earlier.

"Because the people in the UK have always supported Ukraine and we’re grateful to this – I don’t know what he [Wallace] means, let him write to me and tell me how he would like us to be grateful."

He addresses the Ukrainian defence minister sitting in the audience.

He asks him: "Do you have issues with the defence minister of the UK? Did you tell him you're grateful?

"You have to call him today! Please!"

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from Wallace's comments, saying Zelensky had “repeatedly expressed gratitude”.

Image source, Reuters

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that the Turkish parliament will not ratify Sweden's candidacy for Nato until at least October.

Speaking to reporters in Vilnius after the Nato summit, Erdogan says that Turkey's parliament is on holiday for two months, following which "there are a lot of (other) legislative proposals to discuss".

Turkey surprisingly agreed to Sweden joining the military alliance earlier this week after months of opposition.

Wallace will be forgiven for his franknesspublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 12 July 2023

16:32 BST 12 July 2023

James Landale
Diplomatic correspondent

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace’s remarks about Ukraine needing to be more grateful should be seen in context.

He was not voicing frustration or anger. He was instead suggesting Kyiv needed to be more politically savvy.

He was saying Ukrainian officials should understand more about the internal politics of their allies, particularly the United States. They should not be surprised, he suggested, there were a few “grumbles” on Capitol Hill if they turned up in Washington with a shopping list of weapons, as if the US government were like a branch of Amazon.

They should understand, Wallace said, they were asking some countries to give up the bulk of their ammunition stocks. So Wallace’s remarks were like a parent telling a child to remember to write a thank-you letter to a relative so they get a present next year too.

It might not have been very diplomatic for him to say this in the middle of a summit designed to emphasise Nato unity.

But Wallace is known for his outspoken support for Ukraine and his efforts to send Western military arms and ammunition to the country - so he will probably be forgiven for his frankness, which will come as no surprise to Britain’s allies.

Earlier today and also on the theme of gratitude, the US national security adviser said that the "American people deserve a degree of gratitude" for their support of Ukraine.

Speaking at a Nato public forum, Jake Sullivan was pressed by a Ukrainian activist on why Ukraine has not been invited to join the Nato alliance.

Sullivan said that the people of Ukraine are the ones "really carrying the burden" of the war.

But he was also firm in telling the activist, Daria Kaleniuk of the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine, that the US is already doing a lot to help in the war against Russia.

“The American people have sought - in watching and wanting to stand in solidarity with the brave and courageous people of Ukraine - to step up and deliver."

"And I think the American people do deserve a degree of gratitude - from us, from the United States, from our government, deserve gratitude for their willingness to step up and from the rest of the world, as well, as do every ally and partner that's supporting it,” Sullivan said.

Image source, Reuters

With so much of the Nato summit being focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, let's take a look at what's been happening in the war as talks have been taking place.

Ukraine says it shot down 11 Russian drones launched at the capital, Kyiv, overnight. It was the second consecutive night Russia has attacked the city.

One official in the Cherkasy region, southeast of Kyiv, said two people had been injured after a drone hit a building, causing a fire.

Air raid sirens were heard across the country for several hours.

On Tuesday, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 20 Russian drones. Some of them targeted the southern port city of Odesa.

At his press briefing earlier, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also spoke of the UK's contribution to Nato, emphasising its commitment.

"I was struck once again this week by just how valued our [the UK's] contribution is," he said.

"The British people should know that, and should be proud."

"We spend more than 20 other Nato countries combined, but it's about much more than that," he said, highlighting the work done by the armed forces, the UK's "deep partnerships" with other countries, and leadership.

"The United Kingdom has been there since the start of this alliance," he said, adding that "this week we've shown once again that the UK is at its heart."