Biden Warns Putin Over Ukraine: "We're Not Backing Down"

BARI, Italy — President Biden on Thursday touted a new 10-year security agreement with Ukraine, saying the pact sent a clear message to Russia that the United States and its allies would support Kyiv for the long term.

"Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term," Biden said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Group of Seven nations summit in Italy.

"We're not backing down. We're standing together against this illegal aggression," Biden said. President Vladimir Putin of Russia "cannot wait us out," Biden added. "He cannot divide us. We will be with Ukraine until they prevail."

Zelensky called the security agreement "historic" in remarks alongside Biden after both leaders formally signed the pact.

"We have signed the strongest agreement with Ukraine and the U.S since our independence," Zelensky said. "It clearly states America's efforts to help Ukraine win this war."

The agreement commits the U.S. to provide Ukraine with continued military training, defense and intelligence cooperation and other security assistance.

Under the deal the U.S. will "support the full range of Ukraine's current defensive needs now and over the long-term," according to a White House memo on the agreement.

The pact does not include a commitment by the U.S. to send American troops to Ukraine in the event of a future attack.

Biden has said since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022 that he would not send U.S. troops to Ukraine. Zelensky has not asked for foreign troops, saying that Ukraine can defend itself if it continues receiving weapons and other military aid from its allies.

Zelensky has also pushed for Ukraine to join NATO, whose members are committed to defend each other if a country in the alliance is attacked. The U.S. and other allies have expressed support for Ukraine's eventual ascension to NATO while also signaling that it's unlikely until the war with Russia is over.

The White House memo called the deal "a key part of Ukraine's bridge to NATO membership."

"Ukraine's future is in NATO," the memo said.

A debate about the timeline for Ukraine's membership will be front and center at this year's NATO summit, which takes place next month in Washington, D.C.
Administration officials said the security deal was a significant step in bolstering ties between the U.S. and Ukraine, despite the fact that it falls short of a NATO-style mutual defense pact.

The agreement is a "real marker of our commitment, not just for this month, this year, but for many years ahead, to continue to support Ukraine, both in defending against Russian aggression and in deterring future aggression," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Thursday ahead of the press conference and signing ceremony.

The deal is legally binding. But it can be reversed by a future president, since it is not a treaty that requires ratification by Congress.

Speculation about whether Donald Trump would undo the agreement if he wins the 2024 election began even before the deal was signed Thursday at the summit in Italy.

As a candidate Trump has sent mixed signals on Ukraine. He did not stand in the way of Republicans supporting a major security package for Ukraine that Congress approved earlier this year after a lengthy delay.

Still, Trump has expressed concern at times about continued U.S. spending on Ukraine. He also said that he would end the war in one day as president, though he didn't say how.

During his presidency Trump withdrew from the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal.

Biden and Zelensky did not focus on Trump or what he might do during their joint appearance Thursday in Italy.

The meeting between Biden and Zelensky comes one week after the leaders met in France on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary commemoration of D-Day.
Biden is scheduled to meet Friday with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and other G7 leaders as well as Pope Franics before flying back to the U.S.

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