Biden: We're not waiting for reforms to be finished to make long-term commitments to Ukraine security

U.S. President Joe Biden said this on Wednesday, delivering a speech together with other G7 leaders in Vilnius, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Allies all agreed to lift the requirements for Membership Action Plan for Ukraine and to create a path to NATO membership, while Ukraine continues to make progress on necessary reforms. But we're not waiting for that process to be finished to make the long-term commitments that we're making to Ukraine security,” the U.S. leader said.

Biden noted that he had repeatedly spoken with President Volodymyr Zelensky about what guarantees the West could provide for Ukraine.

"Today, the members of the G7 are launching a Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine to make it clear that our support will last long into the future," Biden emphasized. He clarified that this starts a process by which each of the G7 nations and any other nation who wishes to participate will negotiate long-term bilateral security commitments with and to Ukraine.

“We're going to help Ukraine build a strong capable defense across land, air, and sea from which it will be a force of stability in the region, and deter against any and all threats,” the U.S. President stressed.

In this regard, he thanked all G7 leaders and President Zelensky for the joint efforts that resulted in the declaration.