Biden assures Ukraine of ‘Israel-like’ security support in G-7 meeting with Zelenskyy.

President Biden Offers Security Assistance to Ukraine at NATO Summit

In a historic meeting with Group of Seven (G–7) leaders at the NATO summit, President Joe Biden extended security assistance to Ukraine in its ongoing battle against Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also present at the meeting, where the G7 leaders issued a “Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine.”

President Biden emphasized that this declaration signifies a long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security and stated, “We’re going to help Ukraine build a strong capable defense, across land, air, and sea.” He further emphasized that this step is crucial for regional stability and to counter any potential threats.

Before the summit, the White House had indicated that Ukraine could receive “Israel-style” security guarantees in its fight against Russia. This would involve various forms of military assistance, intelligence sharing, cyber support, and other material support to help Ukraine defend itself and deter future aggression.

As part of the joint declaration, each country will individually negotiate long-term bilateral security arrangements with Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home a significant security victory for our country and our people.”

Ukraine’s Path to NATO Membership

However, President Zelenskyy voiced his frustration regarding the NATO communiqué released on July 11, which did not provide a timeline for Ukraine’s accession to the military alliance.

The communiqué stated that Ukraine can join NATO “when Allies agree and conditions are met.” While acknowledging that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO, the alliance demands further democratic and security reforms from Kyiv before granting membership.

There were differing views among NATO allies leading up to the summit, with the United States, Germany, and southern NATO partners adopting a more cautious approach towards Ukraine’s membership, while the Baltic states and Eastern European nations like Poland held a more assertive stance.

White House Defends NATO Communiqué

In response to President Zelenskyy’s criticism, the White House defended NATO’s decision, emphasizing that it sends a “very strong, forward-leaning message” for Ukraine.

Amanda Sloat, White House National Security Council senior director for Europe, stated, “We joined with Allies yesterday in agreeing to a very strong, positive message. We reaffirmed that Ukraine will become a member of the NATO Alliance.”

The communiqué also acknowledged Ukraine’s substantial progress on its reform path and removed the requirement for Ukraine to implement a Membership Action Plan. Instead, the members have decided to establish the “NATO-Ukraine Council,” a new platform for cooperation.