“Ukraine can and can cease Putin,” US President Joe Biden mentioned.
Washington:
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday introduced a historic donation of air-defence gear for Ukraine and mentioned Russia is failing on this struggle.
Welcoming leaders of NATO member nations for the historic summit on the event of its seventy fifth anniversary, Biden mentioned the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will present Ukraine with the gear for 5 further strategic air-defence techniques.
Within the coming months, the US and its companions intend to offer Ukraine with dozens of further tactical air-defence techniques, he mentioned, including that the US will be sure that when “we export important air-defence interceptors, Ukraine goes to the entrance of the road”.
“They’ll get this help earlier than anybody else will get it. All informed, Ukraine will obtain lots of of further interceptors over the subsequent 12 months, serving to defend Ukrainian cities towards Russian missile and Ukrainian troops going through air assaults on their entrance traces,” Biden mentioned.
“Make no mistake, Russia is failing on this struggle. Greater than two years into (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s struggle of alternative, his losses are staggering. Greater than 350,000 Russian troops lifeless or wounded, practically a million (10 lakh) Russians, a lot of them younger folks, have left Russia as a result of they now not see a future in Russia,” he mentioned.
“Kiev, bear in mind fellas and women, was alleged to fall in 5 days? Keep in mind? Effectively, it’s nonetheless standing two and a half years later and can proceed to face. All the allies knew that earlier than this struggle, Putin thought NATO would break. In the present day, NATO is stronger than it has ever been in its historical past. When this mindless struggle started, Ukraine was a free nation. In the present day, it’s nonetheless a free nation,” the US president mentioned.
Reiterating that Putin’s struggle of aggression towards Ukraine continues, he mentioned the Russian president desires nothing lower than Ukraine’s whole subjugation to finish that nation’s democracy, to destroy its tradition and to wipe it off the map.
“We all know Putin is not going to cease at Ukraine, however make no mistake, Ukraine can and can cease Putin,” Biden mentioned.
He mentioned the struggle will finish with Ukraine remaining a free and unbiased nation. “Russia is not going to prevail. Ukraine will prevail. Girls and gents, it is a pivotal second for Europe, for the transatlantic group and I’d add, for the world. Allow us to bear in mind, the truth that NATO stays the bulwark of worldwide safety didn’t occur by chance,” he mentioned.
“NATO is stronger, smarter and extra energised than while you started. And a billion folks throughout Europe or North America, certainly the entire world, will reap the rewards of your labour for years to return within the type of safety, alternative and larger freedom,” the president mentioned.
In his remarks, NATO Secretary Common Jens Stoltenberg mentioned there are not any cost-free choices with an aggressive Russia as a neighbour.
“There are not any risk-free choices in a struggle. And bear in mind — the most important price and the best threat shall be if Russia wins in Ukraine. We can not let that occur. Not solely would it not embolden President Putin, it will additionally embolden different authoritarian leaders in Iran, North Korea and China,” he mentioned.
He acknowledged that NATO’s enduring success has by no means been a given, however is reasonably “the results of deliberate decisions and tough choices” — from the alliance’s creation to arms management negotiations, and from NATO’s enlargement on the finish of the Chilly Warfare to its help to Ukraine in the present day.
“The time to face for freedom and democracy is now, the place is Ukraine,” he mentioned.
Stoltenberg concluded by saying that the alliance will proceed to face tough questions sooner or later, however that “we’re stronger and safer collectively in NATO”.
Biden offered Stoltenberg with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USA’ highest civilian honour, in recognition of his decade of service on the helm of the alliance.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
