President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a bilateral security agreement at the G7 summit Thursday that will pledge long-term defense and security cooperation.
“We want to demonstrate that the U.S. supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that we’ll continue to help address their security needs, not just tomorrow but out into the future,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force on his way to the G7 summit site of Bari, Italy. “We’ll be sending Russia a signal of our resolve.”
A U.S. official tells me this is an “executive agreement,” which means a future president could withdraw from it.
President Joe Biden shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, June 7, 2024.
Evan Vucci/AP
The possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency looms large over the summit — Trump has not made clear whether he would continue to support Ukraine and has said he’d “encourage” Russia to attack NATO allies who don’t contribute enough towards defense spending.
The official told me negotiations on this bilateral agreement started last fall, but the U.S. was not able to complete negotiations while waiting for Congress to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine. Once that was passed, negotiations were accelerated.
The agreement states that the U.S. intends to work with Congress over the coming months to find a path to sustainable resources for Ukraine.
President Joe Biden boards Air Force One as he departs for the G7 summit in Italy, from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, June 12, 2024.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The agreement does not include any commitment to use U.S. forces to defend Ukraine. It will outline a vision of how the U.S. and its allies will work with Ukraine to strengthen its defenses and deter future aggression from Russia.
The pledge will be similar to bilateral agreements that Ukraine has already signed with more than a dozen other countries.
“If Vladimir Putin thinks he can outlast the coalition supporting Ukraine, he’s wrong,” Sullivan added. “He cannot just wait us out.”
Zelenskyy and Biden will meet Thursday on the sidelines of the G7 and will hold a joint news conference.
President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to finalize a security agreement between the United States and Ukraine at the upcoming G7 summit. The agreement, which aims to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aggression, comes at a critical time as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate.
The security agreement is expected to include provisions for increased military aid to Ukraine, as well as enhanced cooperation on intelligence sharing and cybersecurity. This comes as Ukraine faces ongoing challenges from Russian-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country, as well as a recent buildup of Russian troops along its border.
The United States has been a key ally to Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the U.S. has provided billions of dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, including weapons, training, and equipment.
President Biden has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and has made it clear that the U.S. stands with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The security agreement to be finalized at the G7 summit is seen as a further demonstration of the U.S.’s commitment to Ukraine’s security and stability.
In addition to the security agreement, President Biden and President Zelenskyy are expected to discuss a range of other issues at the G7 summit, including economic cooperation, energy security, and efforts to combat corruption in Ukraine. The summit, which will bring together leaders from the world’s largest advanced economies, provides an important opportunity for the U.S. and Ukraine to strengthen their partnership and address shared challenges.
Overall, the finalization of the security agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine at the G7 summit is a significant development that underscores the importance of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship in promoting peace and stability in Eastern Europe. It sends a strong message to Russia that the international community stands united in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
