On Thursday, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a 10-year bilateral security deal to strengthen Ukraine's defence against Russian invaders and bring Ukraine closer to NATO membership.

The agreement, reached on the margins of the G7 summit in Italy, aims to bind future US administrations to supporting Ukraine, even if former President Donald Trump wins the November election, officials said.
"Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's credible defence and deterrence capabilities in the long run," Biden said during a joint press conference with Zelenskyy.

He stated that the G7's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin is: "You cannot wait us out." "You cannot divide us." The group of powerful countries also agreed on a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, backed by income from frozen Russian assets.

Bilateral Agreement Details

According to the document, the US-Ukraine security agreement serves as a framework for a long-term effort to help improve Ukraine's antiquated military forces and to pave the way for Ukraine's eventual NATO membership. The Ukrainian president termed the pact significant, describing it as a bridge to his country's eventual NATO membership. "This is an agreement on security and thus on the protection of human life" , he stated.

NATO membership
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Zelenskiy has long wanted NATO membership, but allies have declined. The Western alliance considers any attack on one of its 32 members to be an attack on all under its Article Five clause.

In the case of an armed strike or threat against Ukraine, top US and Ukrainian officials will meet within 24 hours to discuss a response and decide what extra military needs Ukraine may require, according to the agreement.

The agreement reaffirms the United States' support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of a renewed Russian offensive on Ukraine's eastern front. It also details intentions to strengthen Ukraine's defence sector and grow its military.

According to the article, Ukraine requires a "significant" military force as well as persistent expenditures in its defence industrial base that meet NATO requirements. It will allow the two countries to share intelligence, perform training and military education programmes, and conduct joint military exercises.

Trump’s Stance on Ukraine’s Conflict and NATO Membership

With Trump leading Biden in many electoral polls, the future of the pact is uncertain.
Trump has expressed doubts about Ukraine's prolonged conflict, claiming at one time that he would stop it on his first day in office. Trump has also urged for Europe to shoulder more of the burden of assisting Kyiv.

When asked what may happen to his country if leadership in the United States and other allies changed, Zelenskyy said people supported Ukraine because they shared principles and empathised with the Ukrainian people. He stated he does not believe popular backing would alter. "If the people are with us, any leader will be with us in this struggle for freedom", he stated.

Biden recently reversed his position on enabling Ukraine to utilise American weaponry for assaults inside Russia, allowing Kyiv to launch long-range US missiles at Russian targets near the beleaguered Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Biden made it plain during the news conference that he would not allow Ukraine to expand its use of US weapons within Russia.

"It makes a lot of sense for Ukraine to be able to intercept or combat what is happening beyond the border. "In terms of long-range weapons, we have not changed our position," Biden stated.

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