Biden assures NATO’s unwavering backing for Ukraine after Summit.

President Biden’s Powerful Message to Russia

VILNIUS, Lithuania—President Joe Biden delivered a speech on July 12 following the conclusion of a two-day NATO summit in Vilnius, seeking to convey a clear message to Russia that the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine “will not falter.”

“The defense of freedom is not the work of a day or a year. It’s the calling of our lifetime, of all time,” Mr. Biden said during his speech at Vilnius University, which was open to the public. “We are steeled for the struggle ahead. Our unity will not falter. I promise you.”

Mr. Biden attended the summit on July 11-12 in Lithuania, where he met with world leaders to discuss the alliance’s pressing challenges, particularly Russia’s war in Ukraine.

During this speech, Mr. Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong to assume that NATO would break apart.

“He thought our unity would shatter at the first testing. He thought Democratic leaders would be weak. But he thought wrong,” he added.

This year’s summit came at a critical moment, with many calling it the alliance’s most important meeting since the end of the Cold War. Significant decisions were reached, including the future path of Ukraine’s membership to NATO, further support for the war-torn country, and an increase in defense spending commitments by member countries.

The NATO allies also included a strong statement on China’s growing global ambitions in this year’s summit communiqué.

The meeting in Vilnius brought together heads of state, military officials, and diplomats from the alliance’s 31 member nations.

Mr. Biden said that NATO is “stronger, more energized, and more united than ever in its history.”

“And even after all this time, Putin still doubts our staying power. He’s still making a bad bet that the conviction and the unity among the United States and our allies and partners will break down,” he said. “He still doesn’t understand that our commitment, our values, and our freedom are something we can never, never, ever, ever walk away from. It’s who we are.”

The president continued by lauding U.S. efforts, including sharing intelligence about Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine, assisting NATO members in preparing to deter any aggression, and rallying international support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

“We will not waver,” Mr. Biden