Ukraine has already signed a security agreement with 15 countries. Now the USA is following suit. The agreement is to be signed on the sidelines of the G7 summit. The USA speaks of a “bridge” to possible NATO membership.
The USA and Ukraine want to conclude a bilateral security agreement. This was announced by the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, on the flight to the G7 summit in Italy. According to US information, the agreement includes arms deliveries and support for Ukraine, but no deployment of US armed forces. 15 countries have already concluded corresponding agreements with Ukraine. The US government's negotiations with Kyiv have now also been concluded. US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to sign the agreement on Thursday.
Sullivan called the agreement with Kyiv a “bridge” to Ukraine's possible NATO membership: “That bridge is our helping Ukraine create the capabilities it needs for its own security and to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Biden wants to strengthen Ukrainian air defense
The agreement will make it clear that “our support will extend far into the future (…) especially in the area of defense and security,” Sullivan announced. If Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he can take the alliance by surprise to support Ukraine, then he is mistaken. Sullivan did not comment on media reports that the US wants to provide Ukraine with another “Patriot” air defense system. However, one of Biden's top priorities is to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems.
Kyiv welcomed the announcement of the agreement. “We have come a long way in our cooperation with the United States, and the entire team has done a great job to make this future agreement possible,” said the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak.
