During the G7 summit, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joe Biden signed a security agreement that provides for a wide range of military assistance from Washington to Ukraine, but without specific guarantees.
According to the text of the agreement, the parties recognized this document as support for Ukraine on its path to possible NATO membership.
AFP quotes the US authorities as saying that the agreement is “a powerful signal of strong support for Ukraine now and in the future.”.
President Joe Biden emphasized that American troops will not be sent to Ukraine, but the US administration will do everything possible to train the Ukrainian military and bring the Armed Forces of Ukraine closer to NATO standards.
Zelensky called the agreement "historic" and noted that this is the most important event in relations between Ukraine and the United States.
The agreement stipulates that over the next 10 years, the United States will continue training the Ukrainian military, expand cooperation in the production of weapons and equipment, provide military assistance, and enhance intelligence exchange.
According to the agreement, in the event of a new Russian attack, the US authorities are obliged to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine further steps.
It is important to note that the agreement does not contain obligations for mutual defense like NATO's collective security.
The document also does not set out specific financial commitments for Ukraine's defense support. However, an annex to the agreement reveals how the Biden administration plans to work with Congress to ensure long-term funding for such support.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the symbolic significance of this document before its adoption.
“If Vladimir Putin thinks he can ignore the support for Ukraine from the international coalition, he is deeply mistaken,” he said.
“We are convinced that Ukraine’s security is key to ensuring stability in Europe and, therefore, to the national security of the United States.”.
American media, including CNN, note that the security treaty between the US and Ukraine will be an “executive agreement” that does not require ratification and “does not oblige future presidents to implement it.”.
According to the Washington Post, citing White House sources, the agreement is aimed at committing future US administrations to support Ukraine, even if former President Donald Trump returns to power after the November election. Government sources expressed hope that the agreement would help bridge political divisions within the United States, but acknowledged that any president, including Trump, could withdraw from the agreement because it does not require congressional approval.
According to media analysis, the agreement also does not contain new commitments regarding the prospects for Ukraine's accession to NATO.
The Washington Post notes that due to Trump's lead in popularity polls over Biden, "the future of the deal remains unclear.".
Trump had previously expressed doubts about continuing cooperation with Kyiv, saying he could end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours. He also insisted that Europe take more responsibility for supporting Ukraine. However, Trump ultimately agreed to allow Congress to approve aid to Ukraine this spring.
In addition to the United States, the Ukrainian authorities have successfully concluded security agreements with 16 countries. The latest participant was Japan, which signed its agreement with Kyiv on June 13.
The first agreement this year was an agreement with the United Kingdom, signed in January, for security cooperation. The agreement covered assistance in training the Ukrainian military, developing the defense industry, and supporting the naval forces.
In the following months, similar agreements were signed with Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Iceland, and Norway.
Another 16 countries have pledged to conclude similar agreements with Kyiv in the future. All participants are expected to coordinate the implementation of their commitments to provide assistance to Ukraine.
