Biden and Zelensky strike long-awaited security deal: ‘We’re going to stand with Ukraine’

President Joe Biden on Thursday announced three new measures that he said will create “a stronger foundation” for Ukraine in its bloody war against Russia: a sweeping bilateral security agreement between the United States and Ukraine, a $50 billion loan for Kyiv backed by the Group of Seven countries, and new sanctions against Russian individuals and entities.

Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, Biden said those “three major steps” would show Russian President Vladimir Putin that he cannot wait out or divide the western alliance, which will remain on Kyiv’s side “until they prevail in this war.”

“Two and a half years ago, Putin unleashed a brutal war in Ukraine, and it’s been a horrifying ordeal for the Ukrainian people. It’s also been a test for the world — would we stand with Ukraine? Would we stand for sovereignty, freedom and against tyranny? The United States, the G7, and countries around the world have consistently answered the question by saying ‘yes, we will,” Biden said.

“We will say it again: Yes, again and again and again, we’re going to stand with Ukraine,” he added.

The bilateral security pact builds on the declaration issued by Nato and EU leaders at last year’s Vilnius summit, in which they said Ukraine’s future is as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization when Ukraine meets certain conditions “emphasizing the importance of its deepening integration into the Euro-Atlantic community; and underlining the centrality of reform to support and strengthen Ukraine’s defense, prosperity, recovery, rule of law, and democracy.”

It states that both the US and Ukraine will “work together to help deter and confront any future