President Biden Pledges NATO Support for Ukraine Against Russia at Washington DC Summit
US President Joe Biden pledged support of NATO to defend Ukraine against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ‘war of aggression.’ Biden stated that Putin aims to subjugate Ukraine, end its democracy, and destroy its culture. He assured that Ukraine can and will stop Putin.
Biden announced that the US, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy will provide Ukraine with equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems. The US and its partners also plan to provide dozens of additional tactical air defense systems in the coming months. Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year to protect its cities and troops.
Biden emphasized that Ukraine will get this assistance before anyone else, ensuring it remains a free and independent country. He declared that Russia will not prevail, and Ukraine will.
The speech came a day after Russia conducted strikes across Ukraine, including on the country’s largest children’s hospital. Biden highlighted that NATO is stronger than ever, despite Putin’s expectations of its collapse.
A Joint Statement on Strengthening Ukraine’s Air Defenses was signed by US President Joe Biden, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The US, Germany, and Romania will each provide a Patriot battery, while the Netherlands will enable an additional Patriot battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T long-range air defense system.
The statement emphasized that these systems will protect Ukrainian cities, civilians, and soldiers, and will be rapidly utilized. Further announcements of additional strategic air defense systems for Ukraine are expected this year.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called for decisive actions from the US and Europe, requesting more air defense systems, F-16 fighter jets, and additional security guarantees.
At the NATO Summit’s inaugural ceremony, Biden awarded NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Leaders of the 32 NATO members and five partner countries – Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, South Korea, and Japan – are participating in the summit to commemorate the military alliance’s establishment on April 4, 1949.
