Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday welcomed a commitment by G7 nations to support Ukraine in defeating Russia, insisting it was a step on the way to Kiev’s eventual accession to NATO.
“We are not going to waver,” U.S. President Joe Biden said in a speech in Vilnius meant to show his commitment to Russian President Vladimir Putin after meeting Zelensky at a NATO summit.
“Putin still doubts our staying power. He is still making a bad bet that the trust and unity between the United States and our allies and partners will crumble.”
Zelensky insisted that the pledges by Western leaders amounted to a “significant security victory” he could take to Kiev.
But he did not reveal the fact that he would have preferred the 31-member transatlantic alliance to be a stronger force for Ukraine to join its ranks after defeating the 16-month-old Russian invasion and restoring peace. A timetable should be agreed upon.
“The best guarantee for Ukraine is to be in NATO,” Zelensky said, expressing confidence that Ukraine would be welcomed after the war ended, but warned that the G7’s pledges would be “not NATO’s, but ours’s.” should be seen as a guarantee of security. method of integration.”
On Tuesday, NATO leaders agreed that Ukraine could join the alliance if certain conditions were met, and U.S. and German officials in Vilnius made clear that they have Kiev’s commitment to protecting democracy and the rule of law. Reforms are involved.
“No country is exempt from them,” German Chancellor Olaf Schulz told reporters, referring to the reforms.
That could frustrate Zelensky, who insisted on Ukraine’s understanding that the tests Kiev still had to pass were merely “security conditions,” that peace must be restored and Russian aggression stopped.
“We understand that Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO while the war continues. But then it will be for our common strength when Ukraine joins the alliance,” he tweeted.
Russia ‘fragile’?
The G7 plan provides a framework under which individual countries will agree to bilateral deals with Kiev detailing weapons and how they will respond if Russia moves forward, a message to Putin that he A war cannot be waged in the hope that international support will be lost. .
Biden, who opposed an immediate invitation to Kiev, insisted the G7 pledges showed world powers would side with Ukraine as it fights Russia and sets membership terms.
“We are going to help them build a strong defense capability on land, in the air and at sea,” Biden said at an event with Zelensky and the other G7 powers – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Unveiling a framework document on their security commitments.
Biden hailed Zelensky’s courage as an example to the world, saying, “Not just you, but your people — your sons, your daughters, your husbands, your wives, your friends: You are indefatigable. I’m sure.”
In their statement, the G7 powers “accepted the strategic goal of an independent, sovereign, democratic and sovereign Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, capable of self-defense and deterring future aggression.”
“We will stand by Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression for as long as it takes,” he said.
To prevent Russia from starting another war if peace comes, the G7 pledged immediate military support for Kiev and punishment for Moscow if another attack occurred.
Zelensky thanked them, but stressed that the document should be an “integration instrument” that would one day lead to full NATO membership.
Several other countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic, have already signed the principles of the G7 document, according to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the international solidarity showed long-term support for Ukraine while Russia, which was recently shaken by a brief coup by the Wagner Group, “militarily and politically but weak” and showing “its first signs of disintegration”.
Despite NATO’s failure to offer Ukraine a clear timetable for membership, the Kremlin was so angry with the G7 guarantees that it issued a dark warning that the move would “make Europe a lot more dangerous for years and years.” will”.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the importance of the progress he said Ukraine had made at a two-day summit on NATO’s heavily guarded eastern flank, 16 months after Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine. .
He noted that Zelensky had joined NATO leaders at the opening meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, and said several allies were increasing bilateral aid, such as France’s pledge of long-range ballistic missiles. with and the Netherlands leading a coalition to train fighter pilots.
‘Equal’
“Today, we meet as equals, I look forward to the day when we meet as allies,” Stoltenberg said.
NATO allies from eastern and northern Europe, themselves wary of Russian aggression, have been the most supportive of Kiev’s membership bid, but coalition leaders the United States and European economic powerhouse Germany have been more cautious.
Zelensky also met several other leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Singh, who sympathized with his frustration.
“Both agreed that the arrangement would not replace NATO membership and looked forward to building a new security framework as soon as possible,” said Sink’s Downing Street office.
