U.S., Ukraine Sign 10-Year Bilateral Security Agreement

In a landmark moment for U.S.-Ukraine relations, President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today signed a 10-year bilateral security pact aimed at bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities and deterring future aggression.

“Today is a truly historic day. We signed the strongest agreement between Ukraine and the United States since our independence,” President Zelenskyy remarked during the signing ceremony. His sentiments were echoed by President Biden, who stated, “Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the long term.”

The agreement commits both nations to a decade-long effort focused on enhancing Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities, ensuring its ability to sustain its fight over time, accelerating Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration, and consulting in the event of future Russian armed aggression. “A lasting peace for Ukraine must be underwritten by Ukraine's own ability to defend itself now, and to deter future aggression anytime in the future,” Biden emphasized.

Additionally, the pact delineates a shared vision for achieving a "just peace." As Biden elaborated, “[It's] a peace rooted in the U.N. charter, and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. [It's] a peace with a broad basis for it around the world that holds Russia accountable for the damage it has done in this war.”

Highlighting recent achievements, Biden announced that the G7 has made significant progress by unfreezing some of the $280 billion in Russian assets, initially seized following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. “I'm very pleased to share that, this week, the G7 signed a plan to finalize and unlock $50 billion in the proceeds of those frozen assets, to put that money to work for Ukraine [as] a reminder to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin we're not backing down,” Biden declared.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of these funds, stating, “The proceeds from these assets are a valuable source of resources for Ukraine at a moment when Russia continues to brutalize the country — not just through military action on the front, but through the attempted destruction of its energy grid and its economic vitality.”

In addition to the bilateral security agreement and the release of funds, Biden revealed that the G7 has taken a third "major step" in support of Ukraine by agreeing to sanction countries aiding Russia’s war efforts. Zelenskyy said the sanctions and export controls aim “to make Russia feel the pain for what it is doing against the freedom of peoples.”

He further added, “The agreement clearly states that America supports Ukraine’s efforts to gain victory in this war. The agreement includes provisions for advanced defense systems like Patriot and fighter jet squadrons—that’s right, plural, squadrons—including, but not limited to, F-16s."

He added that the document also details the supply of necessary weapons, their joint production.

Ukraine has been wanting to join NATO. "The issue of NATO is covered throughout the text. The document states that the U.S. supports Ukraine’s future membership in NATO and sees this agreement as a bridge to NATO membership," Zelensky said.

The G7 summit, currently being held in Italy's Puglia region, will continue through this Saturday.