Joe Biden with Volodymyr Zelensky
On Thursday, Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky signed a significant 10-year security agreement between Washington and Kyiv, which the Ukrainian leader described as a historic day in the struggle against Russia’s invasion.
The agreement will see the United States supply Ukraine with a variety of military help and training over the next decade, with Zelensky claiming it will serve as a bridge to his country’s eventual participation in the NATO alliance.
Signed just after a G7 summit agreed on a separate arrangement to loan Ukraine $50 billion based on blocked Russian cash, it comes as the White House looks to lock in support for Kyiv with an election battle against Donald Trump looming.
“Today is a truly historic day”, Zelensky said in a joint press conference with Biden after signing the security deal at a luxury resort near the G7 summit in southern Italy.
Biden stated that they had taken major steps at the G7 that collectively show (Russian President Vladimir) Putin he cannot wait us out.
According to the agreement, the US and Ukraine must meet within 24 hours at the highest levels following any future armed action by Russia. It also promises to strengthen Ukraine’s military, collaborate on training, and seek to grow Ukraine’s domestic arms sector.
“Our security agreement is a bridge to Ukraine’s membership in NATO”, Zelensky continued.
The US has previously stated that Ukraine should have a road to membership, but this is difficult while the country is still at war with Russia, as its Western allies would be forced to go to war with Russia under NATO’s mutual defence treaty.
Biden, meanwhile, defended his decision to allow Ukraine to deploy US armaments for short-range cross-border operations in the Kharkiv region, where Russia is conducting an offensive while stating that longer-range attacks would remain prohibited.
Also read: G7 Leaders Agree On Loan Deal To Help Ukraine With Russian Assets
