VILNIUS: US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the West would not abandon Kyiv in its fight against Moscow. AFP reported that Biden said that they would not waver. President Biden maintained Putin had expected NATO to “break” but “the Russian President thought wrong.”
Reuters reported that Biden told President Zelenskiy on Wednesday that he looks forward to the day he can welcome Kyiv to NATO, aiming to take the sting out of recent remarks that now was not the time for membership of Ukraine in the NATO alliance.
West will not Abandon Kyiv in its Fight Against Moscow: Biden
“Your resilience and your determination has been a model for the entire world to see,” President Biden told President Zelenskiy in an interaction on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Vilnius.
They offered a sharp contrast as they sat side by side, Zelenskiy in a military green T-shirt and trousers and President Biden in a traditional business suit.
President Biden said he understood Zelenskiy’s frustration at getting the aid he needs rapidly enough.
“I pledge you the US is doing everything it can to get you what you need,” President Biden said in the presence of media persons.
Before Biden left Washington for the NATO summit, he told CNN in an interview that he thought the time was not yet right for Kyiv to join NATO. If Ukraine were to become a member of NATO now, President Biden said then, “We are in a fight with Moscow.”
During the NATO summit, the G7 countries promised military and financial aid, and a promise of immediate measures if Moscow should assault Ukraine again.
President Zelenskiy said on Tuesday it would be irrational if Kyiv was not offered NATO membership, abandoned the tough discussion on Wednesday, and adopted a conciliatory tone in his interaction with Biden.
