US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders, meeting off the coast of Italy this week, are working to bolster support for Ukraine and rush Western resources into the country, as they look with concern to the US elections in November, who can be an omen to a change in the American position.
Plans to rush tens of billions of dollars to the beleaguered nation and sign a security deal between Washington and Kiev that helps Ukraine achieve self-sufficiency were intended to demonstrate resolve – and a degree of political creativity – amid the dynamics of the military camp. Russian battle.
“Collectively, this is a powerful set of actions and will create a stronger foundation for Ukraine’s success,” Biden said during a news conference on Thursday (13) alongside his Kiev counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, who was wearing his usual green army uniform.
Calling Russia’s invasion a “test for the world,” the US leader said he and his G7 allies have consistently answered “yes” to the question of whether they would support Ukraine.
“Let’s say it again,” he said. “Yes, again and again and again.”
However, whether the measures agreed this week can withstand another Donald Trump presidency remains to be seen. As Biden finalized his deals in Italy, Trump met with Republicans on Capitol Hill, where he once again made clear he did not want to see another $60 billion in aid flowing to Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the comments. from him. Trump argued, as he has before, that if he were president the war would not continue.
Opposed to additional aid to Ukraine and openly skeptical of NATO, Trump could tear up the bilateral agreement that Biden signed on Thursday (13) if he returns to office.
“If Trump takes office at noon on January 20th next year, by 5pm he could have dissolved this agreement in its entirety,” said John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser. “So if you can’t bind a future president who doesn’t want to be bound, and that includes leaving the treaties, which aren’t even a treaty, I think there could be a downside here. When Trump finds out about this and concludes that they are trying to corner him, it will only make him angrier.”
Such a move would be in line with Trump’s decisions during his previous term to abandon foreign policy agreements negotiated by his Democratic predecessor, including the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal. Few European diplomats hold out hope for a change in policy. tactic in a possible second term.
Memories of Trump’s four years in the White House are still fresh for some G7 leaders and have helped drive urgency in finding ways to channel support to Ukraine at this year’s summit ahead of Trump’s possible return.
Speaking at the press conference with Biden, Zelensky said it is up to the American people to demonstrate to their leader – whoever that may be – that supporting Ukraine is a priority.
“It seems to me that it doesn’t matter who the nation chooses, first of all, it seems to me that everything depends on unity within this or that state,” he said through a translator. “And if the people are with us, any leader will be with us in this fight for freedom.”
Upcoming elections in the US awaken urgency
The upcoming elections have helped create momentum to finalize a long-debated plan to give Ukraine a $50 billion loan using interest earned on frozen Russian assets. American and European diplomats have been working on the technical aspects of such a proposal for months.
European officials were initially reluctant, raising concerns that they could be left at risk if Ukraine was unable to repay the loan, investments generated fewer profits or assets were returned to Russia as part of a peace deal.
However, with uncertainty hanging over any future American support, the time to act seemed short. The fact that the differences were resolved during a bitter US election, in which one of the candidates openly opposed providing more aid to Ukraine, was not lost on many of the negotiators.
“There was a shared recognition here in Puglia by all G7 members that the situation on the battlefield remains difficult, and that if the war continues, Ukraine will still have a great financial need next year and beyond, and that This summit is our best opportunity to act collectively to close that gap,” said a senior US administration official. “This agreement is a sign from the world’s main democracies that we will not tire of defending Ukraine’s freedom and that Putin will not win over us through fatigue.”
Officials said Ukraine will receive the first payments from the deal later this year, but will need more time to use all the money sent.
“It is a very strong message to ensure that we are not the ones who pay for Russian damages, but Russia who has to pay,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Security agreement faces uncertain future under Trump presidency
The deal, in the end, was about more than just money. It was proof, in Biden’s mind, that like-minded allies can overcome differences for the greater good — in this case, helping a beleaguered democratic nation rebuild its infrastructure after an invasion by Russia.
Likewise, his decision to sign a bilateral security agreement with Zelensky was intended to demonstrate long-term American commitment – although the agreement is not guaranteed to survive if Trump wins.
The agreement follows months of negotiations between the US and Ukraine and commits the US for 10 years to continuing the training of Ukraine’s armed forces, greater cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, and the continued provision of military assistance and greater sharing of information.
Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called the pact a “true marker” of American commitment to Ukraine “not just for this month and this year, but for the many years to come.”
And Biden, speaking in Italy, said the pact was designed to make Ukraine more self-reliant — and, by extension, less dependent on changing American sentiments.
“Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term defense and deterrence capabilities,” he said. “A lasting peace for Ukraine must be guaranteed by Ukraine’s own ability to defend itself now and to deter future aggression at any time in the future.”
Still, the commitment is an “executive agreement,” which makes it less formal than a treaty and not necessarily binding on any future presidents. And it contains no new money and is instead “subject to the availability of appropriate funds,” according to its text.
After a long battle this year with congressional Republicans to approve $60 billion for Ukraine — prompting Biden to apologize last week for delays that U.S. officials say helped Russia regain momentum on the battlefield – there is little likelihood that the president will return to Congress this year to ask for additional funding.
Biden pressures G7 to support reproductive rights
Even on an issue unrelated to Ukraine, Biden this week sought to consolidate G7 support in a way that would be unlikely if Trump returned to the summit.
Behind the scenes, he and U.S. officials pushed to keep language on reproductive rights in a statement by G7 leaders after the meeting’s host, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, tried to remove some language from the document, officials said. North Americans.
The back and forth illustrated some of the tense dynamics at play at the summit. Biden has worked to make protecting abortion rights a centerpiece of his re-election bid and a key point of contrast with Trump.
“The president felt very strongly that we needed to have at least language that referenced what we did in Hiroshima on women’s health and reproductive rights,” said a senior US administration official, referring to the year’s G7 summit. spent in Japan.
In that document, the leaders reiterated their support for “access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care.” He also expressed “strong concern about the regression of the rights of women and girls”.
The trip to the rocky Adriatic coast this week will likely be Biden’s last trip abroad before the November elections, and a final moment to harden alliances in person and seal deals before the vote results.
America’s allies in Europe are collectively preparing for a second Trump administration with a sense of apprehension and exhaustion. During diplomatic visits and silent meetings at summits like the G7, this is a constant topic of conversation.
French luminaries who were invited to the Elysee Palace last week for a state dinner in Biden’s honor openly discussed their anxiety about Trump’s potential return to the White House, according to a person who attended.
Those who experienced it the first time have little appetite for a return to the open animosity and norm-breaking rituals that have followed Trump wherever he goes, whether in climate battles on a cliff in Sicily, in trade negotiations in forests. of Quebec or a discussion about Russia’s readmission in a lighthouse in Biarritz.
Towards the end of his term, Trump began to question the usefulness of participating in meetings, a burden of what he considered an unpleasant and hostile experience.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
