At the conclusion of his three-day trip to Lithuania for the NATO summit, President Joe Biden pledged that the U.S. and its allies would present a unified front in support of Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian hostilities.
This commitment comes at a time when the world is witnessing a war that has put a strain on international relations and tested the mettle of democracies across the globe, The Hill reports.
Unity Amidst Adversity
Addressing a diverse audience of Lithuanians, foreign diplomats, members of the Belarusian opposition, and others, Biden underscored the critical role of unity in these tumultuous times. “Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken. We will stand for liberty and freedom today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes. We all want this war to end on just terms,” he declared.
Debate Over Ukraine’s NATO Membership
The question of Ukraine’s prospective membership in NATO was a hot topic during the summit. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine aired his disappointment over the doubts expressed by Biden and other world leaders about Ukraine’s potential NATO membership. However, Zelensky later conceded that Ukraine’s entry into the alliance would not be feasible while the war persisted.
Backing Ukraine
The U.S. and its Group of Seven allies have announced their intention to engage in security negotiations with Ukraine to ensure it receives the necessary military support to deter further Russian aggression. The U.S. has already extended billions of dollars in military and financial aid to Ukraine since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022. This includes the contentious decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, a move that former National Security Adviser to Donald Trump, John Bolton, has lauded as an excellent idea.
Summit Wrap-Up
In his concluding remarks, Biden applauded the resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of the Russian invasion, stating that they “remain unbroken.” He also expressed his admiration for the citizens of Lithuania and other Baltic nations for their support of Ukraine, encouraging them to “keep reminding the world of hope that Lithuania embodies.”
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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