The United States and Ukraine Sign a 10-Year Security Agreement

On the sidelines of the G7 leaders' summit taking place in Rome, Italy, U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year security agreement on Thursday, June 14. The signing of this agreement could pave the way for Ukraine's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In a press conference following the signing, Biden referred to the collective efforts of G7 leaders, stating, 'Putin will not be able to separate us, and we will stand by Ukraine until victory.' The U.S. President emphasized that the goal of the agreement is to 'strengthen Ukraine's legitimate defense capabilities in the long term.' Biden reiterated his previous stance that American forces will not fight in Ukraine, saying, 'The United States will provide them with weapons.' The agreement also allows the U.S. Department of Defense to train Ukrainian forces for the modernization and upgrading of Ukraine's military and to assist Ukraine through joint military programs and cybersecurity initiatives. After signing the agreement, Zelensky described the day as historic, calling it 'the strongest agreement between Ukraine and the United States since Kyiv's independence.' Just hours after the signing, the leaders of the seven industrialized nations signed a $50 billion aid package for Ukraine. On the first day of the G7 leaders' summit, they agreed to provide a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, funded by the profits from frozen Russian assets, aimed at supporting Ukraine's war efforts.