Joe Biden announced that NATO countries would supply Ukraine with five new strategic air defense systems during a summit in Washington.
The alliance was expected to declare Ukraine’s path to NATO as “irreversible.”
The commitment to provide these defense systems, including those requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, followed a tragic missile strike on a pediatric cancer hospital in Ukraine.
Biden condemned the attack, calling it a “horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality.”
“All told, Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities against Russian missiles and Ukrainian troops facing their attacks on the frontlines,” said Biden.
The speech aimed to reassure foreign leaders that Biden, despite being 81, is capable of leading the 32-member military alliance.
It was also a crucial moment for his presidential campaign after a poor debate performance against Donald Trump raised doubts about his capabilities within his own party.
In his speech, Biden forcefully declared, “Before this war, Putin thought NATO would break.
Today, NATO is stronger than it’s ever been in its history.
When this senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country.
Today it’s still a free country and the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country.”
“Russia will not prevail,” he said, to growing applause.
“Ukraine will prevail.”
Later, Zelenskiy urged U.S. political leaders to act promptly and not wait for the outcome of November’s presidential election to support Ukraine.
“Everyone is waiting for November.
Americans are waiting for November, in Europe, Middle East, in the Pacific, the whole world is looking towards November and, truly speaking, Putin awaits November too.
“It is time to step out of the shadows, to make strong decisions … to act and not to wait for November or any other month,” Zelenskiy said.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the U.S. and its European allies would enhance Ukraine’s air defenses amid constant heavy bombardment from Russia.
The U.S., Germany, and Romania will send additional Patriot air defense system batteries, while components donated by the Netherlands will enable another battery to operate.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, approved the donation of an Italian-French-made SAMP/T air defense system.
“These five strategic air defense systems will help to protect Ukrainian cities, civilians, and soldiers, and we are coordinating closely with the Ukrainian government so that these systems can be utilized rapidly,” a joint statement from the leaders of the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Romania said.
“We are working on a further announcement this year of additional strategic air defense systems for Ukraine.”
Besides the medium-range Patriot and SAMP/T systems, the U.S. and its allies plan to provide Ukraine with numerous shorter-range tactical systems, including NASAMS, Hawks, Iris systems, and German Gepard missiles.
Britain’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Zelenskiy were among those arriving in Washington amid warnings of increased missile strikes on Ukraine this week, similar to the attack that killed at least 38 people on Monday.
Diplomats anticipated that a final communique would declare Ukraine’s path to NATO “irreversible” and shift control of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group under NATO.
These measures are seen as efforts to “Trump-proof” NATO policies against potential changes under a new Republican administration, which might reduce aid to Ukraine or require direct negotiations with Russia.
Despite the communique, there won’t be significant progress on Ukraine joining NATO in Washington, though alliance members will present the latest support package as “a bridge to membership.”
Countries like the U.S., Hungary, Germany, and Italy worry that allowing Ukraine to join NATO during the ongoing war with Russia might escalate the conflict, potentially involving NATO directly.
On Tuesday, Zelenskiy expressed hope that Trump, if elected, would continue supporting NATO and Ukraine, but he admitted uncertainty about the former president’s actions.
“I can’t tell you what he will do if he will be the president of the United States.
I don’t know,” he said.
NATO’s outgoing Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, speaking before Biden, justified ongoing U.S. and Western support for Ukraine by stating, “the biggest cost and the greatest risk will be if Russia wins in Ukraine.”
He warned that authoritarian leaders in China, North Korea, and Iran would feel emboldened if Russia succeeded, framing the war as a battle over values.
“They all support Russia’s brutal war.
They all want NATO to fail.
So the outcome of this war will shape global security for decades to come.
The time to stand for freedom and democracy is now, the place is Ukraine,” Stoltenberg added.
Biden later awarded Stoltenberg the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, told The Guardian that the strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital should be a “turning point” in the war, necessitating more anti-air weapons for Ukraine.
“I believe that what happened today must be a turning point to change everyone’s attitude to what is happening in Ukraine, and I believe that without the F-16 fighter jets, without the new air defense systems, without the ammunition for those systems, we won’t be able to cover the skies to defend Ukraine,” he said.
At the summit, several high-ranking European officials met with Keith Kellogg, a top foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump.
Kellogg, in regular contact with Trump, mentioned meeting several European officials recently but did not reveal their identities. He emphasized that he does not speak for Trump or his campaign.
