A bilateral US-Ukrainian security agreement, which makes clear that US support for Kyiv “will continue for a long time”, will be signed by the leaders of both countries on Thursday. This was announced by the press secretary of the White House on Wednesday.
About this informs Voice of America.
As Karin Jean-Pierre told journalists, on Thursday, Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyi will meet in Italy at the summit of the leaders of the “Big Seven” to “discuss our strong support for Ukraine both now and in the future.”
“Following this meeting, the leaders will sign a bilateral security agreement that makes clear that our support will continue long into the future and promises continued cooperation, especially in defense and security,” the White House press secretary added.
In July 2023, less than a year ago, at the Vilnius NATO summit, President Joe Biden rallied the leaders of the G7 countries, proposing a draft joint declaration of support for Ukraine and “underscoring our commitment to the conclusion of these security agreements”, Jean-Pierre added, emphasizing that the declaration was signed not only by all the “Big Seven” countries, but also by another 25 states, many of which signed security agreements with Kyiv.
“Last year, we announced that each country would commit to negotiating a long-term bilateral security agreement with Ukraine. So far, 15 countries have signed these agreements, and I am happy to announce that our negotiations with Ukraine have been completed, and tomorrow we will sign this agreement. Our goal is simple. We want to show that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that we will continue to help address their security needs not only tomorrow, but well into the future– said the press secretary of the White House.
“In the agreement, the text of which will be published later this week, we set out a clear vision for working with our allies and partners, with Ukraine, to continue to strengthen its robust defense and deterrence capabilities. Any lasting peace in Ukraine must be supported by its own ability to defend itself and deter future aggressionJean-Pierre said.
“By signing this agreement, we will also send a signal to Russia of our determination. If Vladimir Putin thinks he can outlast a pro-Ukraine coalition, he is wrong. He simply will not be able to outlast us, and this agreement will show our determination and continued commitment [to the interests of Ukraine]“, she added.
According to Jean-Pierre, the United States, according to the agreement, will monitor Kyiv’s obligations to reform and monitor the use of weapons provided by the United States.
“By deepening cooperation with Ukraine, our government will benefit from its knowledge and experience, its combat innovations and lessons learned on the front. We believe that the security of Ukraine is key to the security of Europe, and therefore to the security of America.” – said Karin Jean-Pierre.
According to Jean-Pierre, the agreement clearly states the administration’s intention to work with Congress in the coming months to find a way to sustainably fund Ukraine.
Ukrainians, according to the representative of the White House, asked for our weapons and help in the fight to protect their territory. They did not ask our force to join the hostilities. Therefore, this agreement does not include any obligation to use our own forces to defend Ukraine. This is a commitment to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself today and deter future aggression, as the president said last year.
