VILNIUS, Lithuania — President Joe Biden pledged Wednesday that western allies “will not waver” in defense of Ukraine, casting the struggle against Russian aggression as one of the world’s central challenges requiring a broad coalition of countries to stand in defense of freedom.
“Our unity will not falter,” Biden declared. “I promise you.”
He made the promise at the NATO summit in the capital of Lithuania, a country that he said knows the “transformational power of freedom” after spending decades under Moscow’s thumb. He drew parallels between Lithuania’s struggle to escape Soviet rule and Ukraine’s ongoing fight to repel Russia’s deadly invasion, highlighting the importance of rallying allies to take on the challenge.
“America never recognized the Soviet occupation of the Baltic,” he said to an outpouring of cheers from a crowd of thousands in a courtyard at Vilnius University draped with American and Lithuanian flags. “Never, never.” More spectators gathered in an overflow area, where a big screen was set up.
Biden spent two days in Vilnius for the annual NATO summit, where members of the western military alliance pledged more support for Ukraine but stopped short of extending an invitation for the besieged country to join the alliance. After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who entered the summit demanding a clear path for his country toward joining the alliance, something that was initially promised back in 2008, Biden said that other security guarantees agreed to at the summit will be even more significant.
“One thing Zelenskyy understands now is that whether or not he’s in NATO now, it’s not relevant as long as he has commitments,” Biden said, comparing the situation to how the U.S. ensures Israel’s security edge over its neighbors.
The president pointed to the U.S. and allied response to Moscow’s invasion as a model for how to respond to other global challenges, from climate change to the rise of China, saying…
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