President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Italy on Thursday, on the sidelines of the G7 summit. This meeting aimed to reinforce a promise Biden made the previous week on the Normandy battlefields, where he commemorated D-Day and emphasized the significance of continued support for Ukraine.
Biden’s Commitment to Ukraine
“We will not walk away, because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated and it will not end there,” Biden stated. Surrounded by the last surviving US veterans of D-Day and the graves of more than 9,000 fallen soldiers, Biden stressed the broader implications for Europe’s security and the vigilance of autocrats worldwide. “Ukraine’s neighbors will be threatened. All of Europe will be threatened. … The autocrats of the world are watching closely to see what happens in Ukraine.”
European Concerns and Political Uncertainty
Biden’s commitment to Ukraine faces skepticism in Europe, where there are growing concerns that his presidency might only be a brief respite between two terms of Donald Trump. Trump’s presidency, which ended in 2021, disrupted long-standing beliefs that the US would always act as a stabilizing force in transatlantic affairs and ensure Europe’s security. The “autocrats of the world” mentioned by Biden will likely be watching closely as Trump meets with GOP House members and senators on Capitol Hill, demonstrating his influence over the Republican Party. This show of authority occurs two weeks after Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a crime and less than five months before he might ask voters to return him to the White House.
Biden’s Investment in Ukraine
Biden’s emotional, political, and diplomatic investment in Ukraine is clear and will be a significant part of his presidential legacy. However, there is persistent uncertainty about the West’s long-term commitment to Ukraine. This concern is fueled by shifting political currents on both sides of the Atlantic that worry Zelensky. In the US, Trump, who has shown disdain for Ukraine, admiration for Putin, and little regard for Europe’s security, may be less than five months away from potentially regaining the presidency. Additionally, recent gains by far-right parties in European Parliament elections, particularly in France and Germany, could complicate the European Union’s support for Ukraine.
Putin’s Stance and Western Resolve
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s readiness to endure heavy losses on the front line without significant political repercussions at home, where political opposition has been largely eliminated, means there is a risk that Western resolve could wane before Russia’s does.
New Initiatives to Support Ukraine
Despite these uncertainties, a flurry of new initiatives from the US and its allies aims to solidify Ukraine’s support and integrate Kyiv closer into Western economic and defense structures. However, no US president can truly bind his successor to a specific course of action. The difficulties in securing the latest $60 billion US aid package for Kyiv through Congress highlight the challenges posed by America’s fractious politics, even if Biden wins re-election in November.
Biden’s Proactive Role
Biden’s return to Europe, only three days after his last visit, underscores his role as the most proactive leader of the Western alliance since President George H.W. Bush. The administration also unveiled new sanctions on more than 300 individuals and entities to hinder the Kremlin’s efforts to evade previous US sanctions. These sanctions target foreign financial firms aiding Putin’s war effort and restrict Russian access to US software and information technology.
Bilateral Security Pact with Ukraine
Biden and Zelensky are expected to sign a bilateral security pact that commits the US to train Ukraine’s armed forces for the next decade and expand cooperation in armament production. “We want to demonstrate that the US supports the people of Ukraine, that we stand with them and that we’ll continue to address their security needs not just tomorrow but out into the future,” said Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser. However, this “executive agreement” could be easily overturned if Trump returns to power.
G7 Economic Support Package
US officials are optimistic that the G7 summit – which includes the US, France, Britain, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada – will finalize a $50 billion economic support package for Ukraine. This package aims to finance the repair of Ukrainian infrastructure using the interest from frozen Russian assets.
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Written By Doris Chinwe Omemgbeoji