KIEV: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The  Secretary General sent condolences in response to Russia's murder of Ukrainian POWs in Olenivka.

Separately, the President of Ukraine briefed Jens Stoltenberg on the battlefield situation and the urgent requirement for Ukraine to swiftly obtain additional heavy weaponry from NATO member states in order to successfully repel Russian strikes and go forward with a new counteroffensive.

Volodymyr Zelensky also stressed the significance of swiftly obtaining non-lethal military assistance from the Alliance as part of the full package endorsed at the Madrid NATO Summit. He stressed the significance of making sure that this aid is fully funded.

Separately, the President spoke with the Secretary General of the Alliance about the progress being made in handling Ukraine's requests to NATO for assistance with humanitarian demining, and he expressed hope for an expedited delivery of the required supplies.

The decision to clear the way for Ukrainian grain exports through Black Sea ports as well as the deployment of the first ship carrying grain from Odessa were both warmly received by Jens Stoltenberg.

The Head of State extended an invitation to the Secretary General of NATO to take part in the August 23 online summit of the Crimea Platform. The alliance's members decided to support Ukraine in a number of ways at the NATO summit held in the Spanish city on June 29–30, including through the provision of fuel and medical supplies, as well as secure communications, cyber defences, and resilience.

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