Biden and Zelensky sign a security deal to bring Ukraine closer to NATO integration | International

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, have signed a bilateral defense agreement, with which they want to guarantee Ukraine’s defensive capability and bring Kiev a little closer to its dream goal of full membership in NATO. “This agreement accelerates Ukraine’s integration into the transatlantic communities. It includes Ukraine’s important commitments on security, economic and democratic reforms in line with its goals of joining the EU and NATO,” the White House tenant said in a joint press conference broadcast on television. For his part, Zelensky assured that this is “the strongest agreement between the United States and Ukraine since our independence (from the Soviet Union, in 1991)”.

The two presidents met this Thursday on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Borgo Egnazia, in southern Italy, just a week after their talks in Paris. The new agreement, which will have a renewable period of ten years, stipulates that in the event of new aggression against Ukraine, the military authorities of both countries will have a 24-hour period to meet and determine how to respond.

With this, the Biden administration wants to send a message of peace to Ukraine and guarantee the support of the leading power in the current war or a hypothetical future aggression. Internally, it also aims to protect as much as possible one of its great priorities in foreign and defense policy in view of the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House. The Republican candidate, who is ahead in most polls, criticized again this Thursday the military aid that the United States provides to Ukraine.

As previously explained by White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the agreement seeks to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capability and make clear that Washington’s support for the invaded country “will continue long into the future… particularly in the area of ​​defense and security.” It promises military aid, humanitarian assistance, and financial cooperation, and highlights the territorial integrity of the country invaded more than two years ago.

“To ensure Ukraine’s security, both sides recognize that Ukraine needs a significant military force, strong capabilities and continued investments in its defense industrial base that are in line with NATO standards,” the text says. “The United States is committed to supporting the development of Ukraine’s air and missile defense system. “Both sides will take new steps over time to transform Ukraine into a modern defense architecture with radars, interceptors and supporting equipment in the tactical and strategic spectrum,” he indicated.

And he declared that “Ukraine’s future lies in NATO.” A phrase of hope for Zelensky, who has already made it clear that the alliance’s next summit, in Washington next month, will not consider Kiev’s membership.

But, because it does not have the status of a treaty — which would require approval by both houses of Congress, something unthinkable today — a future president could cancel the brand-new agreement with the stroke of a pen.

Trump, who has been critical of aid to Ukraine in the past and even claimed he would resolve the war within 24 hours by forcing Moscow and Kiev to negotiate, did not order Republican lawmakers to block the $61 billion aid package that Congress approved in April after months of delays. But on a visit to the Capitol to meet his party’s caucus this Thursday, he was critical again. As some conservative lawmakers revealed, the former president asked himself “If Ukraine wins the war, what will it benefit us?”

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