ROME [Italy], The US and Ukraine are expected to sign a bilateral security accord on Thursday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, in an agreement that will pave a way for Washington's long-term security relationship with Kiev, CNN Has quoted. People familiar with the matter.
The agreement follows months of negotiations between the US and Ukraine and is expected to see the US agree to a 10-year contract for continued training of Ukraine's armed forces, greater cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, continued provision of military assistance and more intelligence. Will remain committed till. share.
However, CNN cited sources as saying that the pledge is expected to be an "executive agreement", making it less formal than a treaty and not necessarily binding on future presidents. Therefore, the deal is likely to be canceled by a future US administration.
Former President Donald Trump, who is also the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has not said explicitly whether he would continue support for Ukraine if he wins in November.But, without specifying, he has repeatedly confirmed that he will negotiate an early end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
He has also pushed European countries to contribute more to their defense and said he would encourage Russia to do "whatever they want" if Europe did not increase its defense funding.
Two sources familiar with the agreement said the US-Ukraine agreement does not make any specific monetary pledges to support Ukraine's defense.
An annex to the agreement will outline how the Biden administration plans to work with Congress on the implementation of security commitments, particularly long-term funding that will be needed to support the defense of Ukraine, one of the sources said. .
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that the US commitment to Ukraine at the G7 "remains front and center" and that Washington will "take bold steps to show Putin that time is not on his side and that Can't escape us, because we support Ukraine's fight for independence.,
Kirby also said President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet during the summit, and the US will discuss steps to unlock Russia's frozen assets for use in rebuilding Ukraine after the war ends, CNN reported. Will announce.
The pledge the US and Ukraine are expected to sign will be similar to 14 other bilateral agreements Ukraine has already reached with other allies, including the UK, France and Germany.
The US-Ukraine agreement will be the 15th such agreement signed, one of the sources said, and 17 other countries have committed to negotiating a similar bilateral security agreement with Ukraine.
As part of the agreement, the U.S. will promise to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine next steps following a future Russian attack, people familiar with the outline of the agreement said.
But like Ukraine's other allies, the bilateral agreement with the US will not include a mutual defense clause, which would commit them to defend Ukraine militarily in the event of another attack.While Zelensky has welcomed the bilateral commitments, he has repeatedly stressed that they are not a substitute for full NATO membership, which has a mutual defense provision known as Article V, according to CNN.
The agreement comes as US-Ukrainian relations begin to recover after faltering late last year and this year amid a congressional battle over additional US funding for Ukraine - Biden said in person during a meeting in Paris last week. Had apologized to Zelensky.
Recently, the Biden administration agreed to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to directly attack Russia. It's a major change Ukraine has been demanding for months amid repeated Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv.
The agreement follows months of negotiations between the US and Ukraine and is expected to see the US agree to a 10-year contract for continued training of Ukraine's armed forces, greater cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, continued provision of military assistance and more intelligence. Will remain committed till. share.
However, CNN cited sources as saying that the pledge is expected to be an "executive agreement", making it less formal than a treaty and not necessarily binding on future presidents. Therefore, the deal is likely to be canceled by a future US administration.
Former President Donald Trump, who is also the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has not said explicitly whether he would continue support for Ukraine if he wins in November.But, without specifying, he has repeatedly confirmed that he will negotiate an early end to the Russia-Ukraine war.
He has also pushed European countries to contribute more to their defense and said he would encourage Russia to do "whatever they want" if Europe did not increase its defense funding.
Two sources familiar with the agreement said the US-Ukraine agreement does not make any specific monetary pledges to support Ukraine's defense.
An annex to the agreement will outline how the Biden administration plans to work with Congress on the implementation of security commitments, particularly long-term funding that will be needed to support the defense of Ukraine, one of the sources said. .
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that the US commitment to Ukraine at the G7 "remains front and center" and that Washington will "take bold steps to show Putin that time is not on his side and that Can't escape us, because we support Ukraine's fight for independence.,
Kirby also said President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet during the summit, and the US will discuss steps to unlock Russia's frozen assets for use in rebuilding Ukraine after the war ends, CNN reported. Will announce.
The pledge the US and Ukraine are expected to sign will be similar to 14 other bilateral agreements Ukraine has already reached with other allies, including the UK, France and Germany.
The US-Ukraine agreement will be the 15th such agreement signed, one of the sources said, and 17 other countries have committed to negotiating a similar bilateral security agreement with Ukraine.
As part of the agreement, the U.S. will promise to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine next steps following a future Russian attack, people familiar with the outline of the agreement said.
But like Ukraine's other allies, the bilateral agreement with the US will not include a mutual defense clause, which would commit them to defend Ukraine militarily in the event of another attack.While Zelensky has welcomed the bilateral commitments, he has repeatedly stressed that they are not a substitute for full NATO membership, which has a mutual defense provision known as Article V, according to CNN.
The agreement comes as US-Ukrainian relations begin to recover after faltering late last year and this year amid a congressional battle over additional US funding for Ukraine - Biden said in person during a meeting in Paris last week. Had apologized to Zelensky.
Recently, the Biden administration agreed to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied weapons to directly attack Russia. It's a major change Ukraine has been demanding for months amid repeated Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv.