US, Ukraine ink 10-year defence pact, with eye on Nato membership

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on June 13 aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defence against Russian invaders and getting it closer to Nato membership.

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The deal, signed on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Italy, aims to commit future US administrations to support Ukraine, even if former president Donald Trump wins November’s election, officials said.

“Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s credible defence and deterrence capabilities for the long term,” Mr Biden said at a news conference with Mr Zelensky.

He said the G-7’s message to Russian President Vladimir Putin is: “You cannot wait us out. You cannot divide us.”

The group of rich nations also agreed to a US$50 billion (S$67.8 billion) loan for Ukraine backed by profits from frozen Russian assets.

The US-Ukraine security deal is a framework for a long-term effort to help develop Ukraine’s outdated armed forces and serve as a step towards Ukraine’s eventual Nato membership, according to the text.