President Joe Biden is holding a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as the United States strengthens ties with the Eastern European country.
Biden is expected to launch the 50th Group of Seven summit by signing a long-term security agreement with Ukraine on Thursday. The 10-year bilateral agreement will provide Kyiv with U.S. weapons, along with a wide range of military assistance.
“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 said on Thursday.
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Despite concerns that continuing aid to Ukraine is escalating tensions with Russia, the White House has only strengthened ties with Zelensky in recent months. The deal to expand long-term support to Kyiv comes after a promise Secretary of State Antony Blinken made to Zelensky in April.
“Ukraine will be a member of NATO,” the top U.S. diplomat said, reversing decades of American foreign policy.
Some foreign policy experts warn the Biden administration’s controversial support for Ukraine and the move to expand NATO status to Kyiv could lead to war, including nuclear war, between Russia and the U.S.
The press conference is scheduled for 1:45 pm.
