Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky sign defense deal as Ukraine moves closer to NATO membership
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at committing future US administrations to supporting Ukraine even if Donald Trump wins the November election, an official said.
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defence against Russian invaders and bringing Ukraine closer to NATO membership.
The agreement, signed during the G-7 summit in Italy, is aimed at committing a future U.S. administration to supporting Ukraine even if former President Donald Trump wins November’s election, officials said.
“Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrent capabilities over the long term,” Biden said at a joint press conference with Zelensky.
He said the G-7’s message to Russian President Vladimir Putin is: “You can’t wait for us. You can’t divide us.” The group of rich nations also agreed to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan that will be backed by profits from seized Russian assets.
According to the text, the U.S.-Ukraine security agreement outlines a long-term effort to help develop Ukraine’s aging armed forces, and is a step toward Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership.
The Ukrainian president described the agreement as historic, saying it was a bridge towards his country’s NATO membership. “This is an agreement on security and thus on the protection of human life,” he said.
Zelensky has long sought NATO membership but allies have refused to take that step. The Western alliance considers any attack on one of its 32 members an attack on all under its Article 5 clause.
The agreement states that in the event of an armed attack against Ukraine or any such threat, top US and Ukrainian officials would meet within 24 hours to discuss the response and determine what additional defense needs are needed for Ukraine.
Under the agreement, the United States reiterates its support for defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Russia exerts renewed pressure on Ukraine’s eastern front.
It also mentions Ukraine’s plans to develop its defense industry and expand its military.
The text says Ukraine needs a “significant” military force in line with NATO standards and continued investment in its defense industrial base.
This will allow the two countries to share intelligence, conduct training and military education programmes, and conduct joint military exercises.
With Trump ahead of Biden in several polls, the agreement’s future remains unclear.
Trump has expressed skepticism about Ukraine’s continued fighting, at one point saying he would end the conflict on his first day in office. Trump has also pressured Europe to shoulder more of the burden of supporting Kiev.
When Zelenskyy was asked what could happen to his country if there was a leadership change in the United States and other allied countries, he said people stand with Ukraine because they have shared values and they sympathize with the Ukrainian people.
He said he did not expect popular support to change.
He said, “If the people are with us then any leader will be with us in this struggle for freedom.”
Biden recently changed his policy against allowing Ukraine to use US weapons for attacks inside Russia, allowing Kiev to fire long-range US missiles at Russian targets near the embattled Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
At the news conference, Biden made clear that he would not allow Ukraine to use US missiles inside Russia.
“It matters a lot that Ukraine is able to deter or counter what’s happening across the border. In terms of long-range weapons … we haven’t changed our position on that,” Biden said.
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