President Joe Biden vowed to assist Ukraine “as long as it takes” as he and fellow G7 leaders announced a new security deal for Kiev.
It came just one day after Volodymyr Zelensky launched a social media diatribe against his Western allies over what he called an “absurd” delay in charting a path to full membership in his country’s NATO military alliance.
“We will be there as long as it takes,” Biden said in a speech flanked by fellow leaders from the G7, a club of the world’s richest economies that includes Britain and France.
“We are going to help Ukraine build a strong and capable defense by land, sea and air,” he added, insisting that the Ukrainian army would be “a force of stability in the region.”
The president insisted his government would not abandon Ukraine as he announced “long-term commitments” to support the country’s military and protect it from further Russian aggression.
Most Western allies have already provided substantial military support, but mainly for use by land forces. Western fighter jets or warships have not been delivered so far.
The commander-in-chief’s remarks come just hours after his national security adviser Jake Sullivan made sharp remarks at a foreign policy forum that appeared to be criticizing Kiev officials.
Sullivan denounced claims by an anti-corruption activist that Biden was unwilling to offer Ukraine full NATO membership because he was “afraid of Russia” and said American taxpayers should receive “a certain amount of gratitude” for supporting the country.
Standing on stage in his signature olive drab combat suit, Zelensky appeared to be rowing back on his bullish outburst from 24 hours earlier.
He said the pledge to build a better Ukrainian army with G7 support was “much needed and a significant success for Ukraine.”
“I thank everyone who made it possible,” the 45-year-old added.
But it is still not within the timeline to join the Brussels-based mutual defense club Kiev had sought.
He had irritated some members of the US delegation with a blister Twitter eruption shortly before he arrived.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to the summit and denounced NATO allies for not specifying a date when Ukraine would be invited to join
“It is unprecedented and absurd that no timetable has been set for the invitation, nor for Ukraine’s membership. While at the same time adding vague terms about ‘conditions’ even for inviting Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
“This means that an opportunity is left to negotiate Ukraine’s NATO membership with Russia,” he said. “And for Russia, this means motivation to continue its terror.”
He followed that up with a speech to an admiring crowd in Vilnius Town Square, where locals have long memories of the decades when Lithuania was absorbed into the Soviet Empire.
Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden’s national security adviser, responded to suggestions that Washington was treating Russia softly by refusing to formally invite Kiev to NATO membership.
Speaking at the NATO Public Forum event, Sullivan denounced anti-corruption activist Daria Kaleniuk after suggesting that Biden was “afraid of Russia, afraid of Ukraine winning.”
The top Biden aide said, “The United States of America has been committed to providing a tremendous amount of capability to ensure Ukraine’s brave soldiers have the ammunition, air defenses, infantry, combat vehicles, demining equipment and much more . to be able to effectively defend against the onslaught of Russia and also to take back territory.
“I think the American people deserve a certain amount of gratitude from the United States government for their willingness to stand up, and from the rest of the world as well.”
In a thinly veiled swipe at Ukrainian criticism of their Western allies, Sullivan said some of the claims against the US were “completely baseless and unwarranted.”
Biden will appear later Wednesday with Zelensky to outline the new security guarantees for Ukraine, which will also be supported by G7 allies such as the UK, France and Germany.
But it will stop before the ‘attack on one is attack on all’ doctrine that forms the basis of the NATO Article 5 doctrine of mutual defense.
Ukraine is highly suspicious of less binding “security guarantees,” given that the Russian invasion already trampled the so-called Budapest Memorandum, in which international powers pledged to keep the country safe in exchange for Kiev giving up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons .
The Kremlin already called the plans “potentially very dangerous” for European security.
White House national security official Amanda Sloat previously spoke of the new NATO joint communiqué on Ukraine for what it did signal, as opposed to what Ukrainian President Zelensky said it lacked.
Speaking in Vilnius Town Square waving a Bakhmut battle flag, talking to his wife Olena Zelenska
Biden, here with Nato Sec. General Jens Stoltenberg has warned against admitting Ukraine while it is at war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and his wife Olena Zelenska (L) participate in a family photo before the social dinner at the NATO summit. Biden skipped the event
Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who met with Biden, announced that he would back a bid to allow Sweden to join the group.
She called it “unprecedented,” adding during a phone call with reporters traveling with the president that “we have reconfirmed that Ukraine will join the NATO alliance.
She noted that the negotiators have upgraded a “committee” for Ukraine to a “council.”
In 2008, in a move that still preoccupied diplomats gathered in Vilnius, members in Bucharest said Georgia and Ukraine would eventually join the powerful group. Russia invaded Russia months later.
Zelensky was less caustic in comments to reporters on Wednesday.
He said he is working to ensure Ukraine “gets this invitation when security measures allow,” adding: “We want to be on the same page with everyone.”
He has a long track record of demanding more, even from allies supplying heavy weapons to help Ukraine fight the Russian invasion, often with useful results.
He wrote on Telegram and later thanked Australia after Canberra agreed to give Ukraine a new pack including 30 Bushmaster armored vehicles following talks with the country’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.