G7 promises Ukraine long-term military support pending NATO membership

The G7 powers pledged Wednesday to provide long-term military support to Ukraine, a decision welcomed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who stressed, however, that it should not replace a future membership of his country to the Atlantic Alliance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky surrounded by the heads of state and government of G7 countries in Vilnius on July 12, 2023. AP - Pavel Golovkin

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On the second day of the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and almost 18 months after the start of the Russian invasion, the members of the G7 (United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan) presented a plan for Ukraine's security. This is to help it deal with the current Russian offensive and to deter Russia from any "future armed attack" against its neighbor.

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This announcement, which angered Moscow, was described as an "important victory for the security of the Ukraine" by Volodymyr Zelensky. But he was careful to recall that "the best guarantee for Ukraine is to be in NATO", after having sharply criticized the leaders of the Alliance the day before for not having set a timetable for the integration of his country into this organization after the end of the war.

« Ukraine's future is in NATO »

« 

Ukraine's future is in NATO " assured US President Joe Biden. But, in the meantime, "we will help (the Ukrainians) to build strong defensive capabilities on land, at sea and in the air," he said, before praising the courage of this country, an example "for the whole world".

The G7 declaration provides a framework for the subsequent conclusion of bilateral agreements between its member states and Kiev detailing the arms they will supply. Eight other countries have joined the initiative, according to Madrid: Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic.

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We must ensure that when the war ends, there are credible mechanisms in place for Ukraine's security so that history does not repeat itself. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said before the first meeting of the "Ukraine-NATO Council" with Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Today we meet as equals and I look forward to the day when we meet as allies. ", continued the Norwegian, who has just been reappointed for one year at the head of this organization.

A shortened process

The day before, on the first day of the summit, leaders pledged to shorten the process Kiev would have to follow to join NATO. "We will be able to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the Alliance once Allies have decided and the conditions are met," the final communiqué states. For Volodymyr Zelensky, these conditions are "related to security": "we understand that Ukraine cannot become a member as long as the war continues." He said he was "confident" about membership "after the war".

The final communiqué of the Vilnius Summit does not go much further than the commitment made in 2008 on Ukraine's future integration. The United States, which is the leading military power, is worried about being dragged into a possible nuclear conflict with Russia. Volodymyr Zelensky has held bilateral talks with several leaders, including Joe Biden, who advocates a model similar to the one agreed with Israel, under which Washington has pledged to provide substantial military aid over time.

(

With AFP)

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• G7
• Ukraine
• United States
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• Russia