New 10-year security agreement signed by Biden and Zelenskyy

President Joe Biden touted on Thursday several new major U.S. commitments for Ukraine that were announced this week, including a 10-year bilateral security agreement, sanctions to disrupt Russia’s war machine, and a sign-off from the G7 on a $50 billion loan backed by frozen Russian assets.

Biden, in during a press conference in Italy with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the collective efforts by the G7 show that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot wait us out, he cannot divide us, and we’ll be with Ukraine until they prevail this war.” 

On the bilateral agreement, Biden said the goal is to “strengthen Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term.”

He reiterated his position that American troops will not fight in Ukraine, but the United States would provide them with weapons.

Zelenskyy called it a “historic day” after signing the “strongest agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. since our independence.”

“This is an agreement on security and thus on the protection of human life. This is an agreement on cooperation, and thus on how our nations will become stronger. This is an agreement on steps to guarantee sustainable peace. And therefore, it benefits everyone in the world because the Russian war against Ukraine is a real, real global threat,” Zelenskyy said. 

Zelenskyy was asked what his contingency plan is if the next U.S. president does not follow through with this agreement, but he suggested that as long as Americans support Ukraine, so will the American president. 

“If the people are with us, any leader will be with us in this struggle for freedom,” he said.

Highlighting the frozen Russian assets, Biden said the plan that’s been agreed to by the G7 is another reminder for Putin that “we’re not backing down.”

“Collectively, this is a powerful set of actions and will create a stronger foundation for Ukraine’s success,” Biden said.

After Biden recently signed off on Ukraine using American weapons to strike in parts of Russia, limiting use to areas near the Russian-occupied Kharkiv region, he was asked if he would consider expanding those parameters to allow for longer-range strikes; he said his policy is still against that.

“It makes a lot of sense for Ukraine to be able to take out or combat what is coming across that border. In terms of long, long-range weapons, longer-range weapons into the interior of Russia, we have not changed our position on that sort,” he said.

Zelenskyy was asked about how long the supplemental support from the U.S. and other nations will get him on the battlefield. He said it’s not a matter of how long the aid lasts, but, more importantly, how long unity among nations will last. 

“I think the question has to be, for how long the unity will last? The unity in the United States, together with the European leaders — how these or those elections will influence this unity?” Zelensky said, via translation

“It seems to me that we should look on this exactly this way: to preserve unity, to preserve the integrity of the world, the integrity of the democratic world. Because if Ukraine does not withstand, the democracy, many countries will not be able to withstand, and I am sure of that,” he added.

For his part, Biden pledged that Ukraine will “have what they need.”

President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently signed a new 10-year security agreement, solidifying the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The agreement, which was signed during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington, D.C., represents a significant milestone in the ongoing partnership between the two countries. It reaffirms the United States’ support for Ukraine’s efforts to combat Russian aggression and strengthen its defense capabilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, the United States will provide Ukraine with military assistance, including training, equipment, and intelligence sharing. This support is crucial for Ukraine as it continues to face ongoing threats from Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014 and has been supporting separatist forces in eastern Ukraine.

In addition to military assistance, the agreement also includes provisions for increased cooperation on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and border security. This reflects the growing importance of these issues in the modern security landscape, as cyberattacks and terrorism continue to pose significant threats to countries around the world.

The signing of the agreement comes at a critical time for Ukraine, as it seeks to strengthen its defenses and deter further aggression from Russia. The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people, and the situation remains volatile despite a ceasefire agreement signed in 2015.

The new security agreement between the United States and Ukraine sends a clear message to Russia that any further aggression will not be tolerated. It also demonstrates the United States’ commitment to supporting its allies and partners in the face of external threats.

Overall, the signing of this agreement represents a significant step forward in the U.S.-Ukraine relationship and underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing security challenges. As President Biden and President Zelenskyy work together to implement the terms of the agreement, both countries will be better positioned to confront shared security threats and promote stability in the region.