NATO, meeting at a summit, wants to guarantee the defense of Ukraine

The leaders of NATO member countries enter the hard part of the negotiations on Wednesday, determined to move forward. strengthen their support à Ukraine and &agrav; overcome the political doubts and uncertainties surrounding this historic summit.

After having celebrated with great fanfare the previous evening the 75th anniversary of the Western military alliance, they must meet within the North Atlantic Council, the supreme political body of NATO, to discuss the modalities of this increased support for Ukraine, which faces a growing barrage of Russian missiles.

US President Joe Biden already confirmed Tuesday evening that allies were going to provide Ukraine with a total of five anti-aircraft defense systems, including four Patriot-type batteries, surface-to-air missiles that are particularly effective in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

These systems are loudly demanded by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also present in Washington. He thanked allies on Tuesday for their “strong statement” of support, calling on them not to let their guard down as they await the results of the November elections in the United States.

Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy must also contribute.

US President Joe Biden delivers a speech during NATO's 75th anniversary ceremony, July 9, 2024 in Washington © AFP – SAUL LOEB

“It is time to come out of the shadows, to make strong decisions, to work, to act and not to wait for November or any other month,” the Ukrainian president said Tuesday evening in a speech to the 'Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington.

“Russia will not win”, Joe Biden, 81, forcefully promised in a highly anticipated speech after questions about his ability to defend the colors of the Democratic camp, four months before the American presidential election.

Russia has recently intensified these missile strikes against Ukraine, having 43 dead, and devastated the country's largest children's hospital, in kyiv. Russian missiles also destroyed half of Ukraine's electricity generation capacity.

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The Allies have also committed to providing other Patriot or equivalent missiles “this year”, and “dozens” of tactical air defense systems, “in the coming months”, according to the American president.

– Trump's shadow –

More than two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this support will not not of oneself”, the outgoing NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, insisted on Tuesday evening during an anniversary ceremony of the Atlantic Alliance. This took place in the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, where the Atlantic Treaty founding the organization of the same name was signed 75 years ago.

US President Joe Biden delivers a speech during NATO's 75th anniversary ceremony, July 9, 2024 in Washington © AFP – Jim WATSON

“There are no cost-free options with an aggressive Russia as a neighbor,” he said, recalling that the “highest cost and greatest risk would be that Russia wins in Ukraine”.

The heads of state and government arrived in the American capital on Tuesday, with the exception of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was not expected until Wednesday. It will try to reaffirm its place on the international scene, while its partners are worried about a weakening of France after the legislative elections.

The Washington summit intervenes in a climate of political uncertainty in the United States, where President Biden has a lot to do to put down a rebellion by elected Democrats calling on him to abandon the race for a second term in November against Donald Trump.

The shadow of the former Republican president hovers over the summit.

He did not hold back from commenting this summit by assuring Tuesday that without it, “there would probably no longer be NATO now”. He thus credited the commitments made by Europeans to spend more on their defense.

In addition to a North Atlantic Council, leaders are expected to attend a dinner in the evening, with foreign and defense ministers doing the same .

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who holds the presidency of the EU, will have the opportunity to report on his trips to Moscow and Beijing, very poorly received, particularly in Washington.

The Ukrainian president must meet with elected officials, before participating in a NATO-Ukraine Council on Thursday, the last day of the summit. Ukraine wanted to receive a formal invitation to join NATO, but will still have to wait in the face of opposition from several countries, including the United States.

On the other hand, it should obtain that this promise of accession is “irreversible”, according to a diplomat, specifying however that certain conditions would be added.

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