Biden: Ukraine can and will stop Putin
U.S. President Joe Biden has said he is convinced that Ukraine can stop Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.
Biden said this in his remarks on the 75th Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Alliance, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"In Europe, Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine continues. And Putin wants nothing less than Ukraine's total subjugation; to end Ukraine's democracy; to destroy Ukraine's culture; and to wipe Ukraine off the map. And we know Putin won't stop at Ukraine. But make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin," Biden said, speaking at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, where the North Atlantic Treaty was signed 75 years ago.
According to Biden, Russia is failing in this war.
"More than two years into Putin's war of choice, his losses are staggering: more than 350,000 Russian troops dead or wounded; nearly 1 million Russians, many of them young people, have left Russia because they no longer see a future in Russia," he said.
Addressing the NATO allies, Biden said: "Together, we've built a global coalition to stand with Ukraine. Together, we've provided significant economic and humanitarian assistance. And together, we've supplied Ukraine with weapons it needs to defend itself: tanks, armored fighting vehicles, air defense systems, long-range missiles, and millions of munitions."
Biden recalled that the United States and nearly two dozen Allied partners had signed the bilateral security agreements with Ukraine and more countries would follow.
"Today, I'm announcing the historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine," he said.
According to him, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy will provide Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems. In the coming months, the United States and its partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of additional tactical air defense systems.
Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, helping protect Ukrainian cities against Russian missiles and Ukrainian troops facing air attacks on the front lines, Biden added.
"When this senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today, it is still a free country, and the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country. Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a pivotal moment for Europe, for the transatlantic community, and, I might add, for the world," Biden said.
The NATO summit is taking place in Washington on July 9-11. The Ukrainian delegation is led by President Volodymyr Zelensky.