Biden, Zelenskiy sign a historic 10-year agreement to boost Ukraine’s defence
- 13 June, 12:49
The US and Ukraine have signed a ten-year security agreement that commits Washington to support Ukraine in the war against Russia even if Donald Trump wins presidential elections in November.
The historic agreement was signed by US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of G7 summit held in Italy on Thursday. “Today, the United States is sending a powerful signal of our strong support for Ukraine now and into the future. Through this agreement, the United States will work with our partners to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself now and to deter future aggression. By doing so, we will bolster Ukraine’s security, which is central to European security and to American security,” the text of the agreement reads.
Addressing the joint press conference with Zelenskiy after the signing of the deal, Biden said: “Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defence and deterrence capabilities for the long term.”
The agreement also brings Ukraine towards the North Atlantic Alliance as “the parties recognize this agreement as supporting a bridge to Ukraine’s eventual membership in the NATO alliance," under the agreement. "To ensure Ukraine’s security, both sides recognize Ukraine needs a significant military force, robust capabilities, and sustained investments in its defense industrial base that are consistent with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards," according to the text of the historic agreement. Speaking from Italy, Biden also sent a message to Vladimir Putin, saying Ukraine’s Western allies were united and could not be divided. In turn, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the defence agreement was “historic”, stressing that this was an agreement on security and thus on the protection of human life.
Furthermore, the defence deal commits the United States to provide Ukraine with material, intelligence, security, institutional and other support and reiterates US support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty amid the war of aggression unleashed by Russia two years ago.
