During the G7 summit, Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Joe Biden signed a security agreement, which 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 the way to possible membership in NATO.
The AFP agency quotes the statement of the American authorities 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 it is the most important event in the relations between Ukraine and the United States.
The agreement stipulates that the US will continue to train the Ukrainian military, expand cooperation in the field of weapons and equipment production, provide military assistance and strengthen the exchange of intelligence over the next 10 years.
According to the agreement, in case of a new attack by Russia, the US authorities are obliged to immediately hold consultations with Ukraine to determine further steps.
It is important to note that the agreement does not contain mutual defense obligations such as NATO's collective security.
The document also does not establish specific financial obligations to support the defense of Ukraine. However, an addendum to the agreement revealed how the Biden administration plans to work with Congress to secure long-term funding for such support.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the symbolic importance of the document before its adoption.
"If Vladimir Putin thinks he can ignore the support of Ukraine from the international coalition, he is very mistaken," he said.
"We are convinced that the security of Ukraine is key to ensuring stability in Europe and, therefore, to the national security of the United States."
American mass media, including CNN, note that the security agreement between the US and Ukraine will be an "executive agreement" that does not require ratification and "does not bind future presidents to its implementation."
According to the Washington Post, citing sources in the White House, this agreement aims to oblige future US administrations to support Ukraine, even if former President Donald Trump returns to power after the elections in November. Government sources expressed hope that the deal would help bridge political divisions within the United States, but acknowledged that any president, including Trump, could withdraw from the deal because it does not require congressional approval.
According to media analysis, the agreement also does not contain new obligations regarding the prospects of Ukraine's accession to NATO.
The Washington Post notes that due to Trump's lead in the polls over Biden, "the future of the deal remains unclear."
Trump previously expressed doubts about continued cooperation with Kiev, 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, in the end, Trump agreed to the approval of the Congress of aid to Ukraine this spring season.
In addition to the USA, the Ukrainian authorities have successfully concluded security agreements with 16 countries. The last participant was Japan, which signed its agreement with Kyiv on June 13.
The first agreement this year was the agreement with Great Britain, concluded in January, which provided for cooperation in the field of security. This agreement covered assistance in the training of the Ukrainian military, development of the defense industry and support of 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 fulfillment of their obligations to provide assistance to Ukraine.
