In a bid to bolster Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion and advance its path towards NATO membership, U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a “historic” 10-year bilateral security agreement on Thursday.
Sources report that the agreement, forged on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, aims to commit future U.S. administrations to support Ukraine, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming November election, even if Republican candidate Donald Trump wins.
At a joint press conference with Zelenskiy, Biden declared, “Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term.”
Biden also conveyed the G7’s unified message to Russian President Vladimir Putin: “You cannot wait us out. You cannot divide us.”
Additionally, the G7 nations agreed on a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, funded by profits from frozen Russian assets.
Zelenskiy hailed the U.S.-Ukraine security agreement as historic, describing it as a framework for a long-term effort to modernize Ukraine’s outdated armed forces and a step towards NATO membership.
While Zelenskiy has long sought NATO membership, the alliance has yet to take that step, considering an attack on any of its 32 members as an attack on all under its Article Five clause.
The agreement stipulates that in the event of an armed attack or threat against Ukraine, top U.S. and Ukrainian officials will convene within 24 hours to consult on a response and determine additional defense needs for Ukraine.
It reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity amidst renewed Russian aggression on Ukraine’s eastern front. The pact also outlines plans to develop Ukraine’s defense industry and expand its military capabilities.
