Biden and Zelensky will ink 10-year deal for U.S. military support
President Joe Biden is set to sign a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky intended to commit the U.S. to a decade of military support – a move that could pressure rival Donald Trump if he takes the White House. The move is a key 'deliverable' of Biden's G7 meetings set to begin in the Apulia region of Italy Thursday. The president arrived last night, and meets one on one with Zelensky before the two leaders are set to hold a joint press conference Thursday evening local time.
'We want to demonstrate that the U.S. supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them, and that we’ll continue to help address their security needs not just tomorrow but out into the future,' White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the annual confab. 'This is a big deal,' he added Thursday. He called it a 'real marker of our commitment, not just for this month, this year, but for many years ahead, to continue to support Ukraine, both in defending against Russian aggression and in deterring future aggression.'
The bilateral deal would not have the strength of a treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate, so Biden or any successor could withdraw from it. But it would still present a barrier should Biden's Republican successor retake the White House. It is one of several efforts considered in Congress to try to 'Trump-proof' elements of the established order.
It comes after Biden was able to push through a $60 billion measure to aid Ukraine after overcoming prolonged opposition from Republican lawmakers in Congress. Trump heads to Capitol Hill Thursday to meet with Republicans who currently control the House and are in position to potentially seize control of the Senate in the November elections.
Trump's White House tenure featured an angry impeachment clash triggered in part over a split within his administration over withholding military aid to Ukraine amid accusations by Trump allies of corruption in the country. Moscow launched its latest invasion of Ukraine in 2022, dramatically esacalating its 2014 invasion of the Donbas region.
Another deal emerging from the G7 meetings is an agreement to provide Ukraine with a $50 billion loan amid its territorial losses to Russian forces. The money comes from interest on $300 million in seized Russian assets – and gets around opposition from within the alliance to using those funds.
Details were still being worked out and administration officials were loath to confirm earlier reporting on the outlines of the deal. But the funds could reach Kiev by year's end. Sullivan told reporters Thursday morning that progress was likely, but he stopped short of offering guarantees on Russian sovereign assets and other issues.
'I think we’re teed up for success in that regard … we’ll have to see how the next two days unfold,' he said. Sullivan stopped short of promising immediate success. He said it wouldn't come today, and said leaders were on 'the verge of a good outcome. I think we will have the major tent poles of this decided,' he said, with some of the specifics yet to be resolved.
The diplomatic slog through arcane financial architecture comes at a summit where Biden and fellow G7 leaders will meet at an elegant medieval style village at Borgo Egnazia (although local police protecting them complained of dirty water and torn mattresses on the 'Goddess of the Night' tour ship that has been housing them.
All of Hunter Biden's children are accompanying the president on the trip, which comes as the family is still processing Hunter's guilty verdict and Biden has yet to speak publicly on it.
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