The United States signed a ten-year security agreement with Ukraine on Thursday, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in southern Italy.
“We are sending a strong sign of our steadfast support for Ukraine,” the US administration proclaimed in a statement released shortly before the signing ceremony.
The agreement, signed by President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, is meant to be a step towards Ukraine possibly joining NATO, according to the text of the agreement.
"The parties recognize this agreement as supporting a bridge to Ukraine’s eventual membership in the NATO alliance," the text says.
Under the agreement, the United States restates its support for Ukraine's defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, amid a renewed push by Russia on Ukraine's eastern front.
"To ensure Ukraine’s security, both sides recognize Ukraine needs a significant military force, robust capabilities, and sustained investments in its defense industrial base that are consistent with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards," the agreement states.
"The United States intends to provide long-term materiel, training and advising, sustainment, intelligence, security, defense industrial, institutional, and other support to develop Ukrainian security and defense forces that are capable of defending a sovereign, independent, democratic Ukraine and deterring future aggression," it says.
