Joe Biden has promised more support for Ukraine, including air defense systems, as he welcomed NATO member states to a summit in Washington to mark the organization’s 75th anniversary.
Beset by rumors about his health, the American president gave a forceful and determined speech in which he insisted that the bloc was “more powerful than ever.”
The speech came as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensifies and mr bidenUS presidential rival Donald Trump continues to suggest that the US would leave NATO if he wins the November election.
“Putin wants nothing less, nothing less, than the total subjugation of Ukraine… and wiping Ukraine off the map,” Biden said.
“Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
The central theme of the NATO summit will be new promises of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Biden and the leaders of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania have pledged five additional Patriot systems and other strategic air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities, civilians and soldiers.
Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide other systems aimed at improving Ukraine’s defenses.
“This is a crucial moment for Europe and the transatlantic community, and I could contribute to the world,” Biden added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Tuesday and said he would “fight” for NATO to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses and provide it with more F-16 fighter jets.
“We are fighting for additional security guarantees for Ukraine, and these are weapons and finances, political support,” he said in a video on social media.
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Meanwhile, the White House hopes the president can turn the page on speculation about his health after a disastrous debate performance.
Biden has been working to persuade American voters, donors and the Democratic Party that he is ready for re-election.
the president has Rejected calls to step aside in his race against Trump, promising to defeat him.
On Monday, his doctor explained that Biden has shown no signs of Parkinson’s disease after reports claimed that a specialist had visited the president several times over the past year.
Biden’s personal doctor, Kevin O’Connor, released a letter insisting that “President Biden has not seen a neurologist outside of his annual physical.”
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