Biden and Zelensky lay out new US support for Ukraine

We've wrapped up our live coverage. Scroll through the posts below to catch up on all the news from Biden and Zelensky's appearance during the G7 summit.

The United States and Ukraine signed a bilateral security pact on the sidelines of the G7 in Italy on Thursday. The deal lays out a path for the US’ long-term security relationship with Kyiv — but could also be undone by future US administrations, according to officials familiar with its details.

The agreement follows months of negotiations between the US and Ukraine. After signing the agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden made remarks and answered questions.

Here's what to know:

• What is included in the deal: The agreement commits the US for 10 years to continued training of Ukraine’s armed forces, more cooperation in the production of weapons and military equipment, the continued provision of military assistance and greater intelligence sharing.
• What Biden said: Biden reiterated the US' support of Ukraine and said his country will ensure Ukraine can defend itself now and deter potential attacks in the future. He said US air defense system support will continue to focus on Ukraine, and that other countries expecting that same support will have to wait.
• What Zelensky said: Zelensky marked what he called a “truly historic day” after signing the agreement and said it would benefit all countries because Russia is a "real global threat." The Ukrainian president said the pact will serve as a bridge to Kyiv's attempt to join NATO. Though the agreement is not binding to future presidents, Zelensky said he thinks future US leaders will continue to support Ukraine. He also said he received assurances from Chinese leadership that they will not supply weapons to Russia
• Russian sanctions: Biden also announced new sanctions on Russia. The measures take aim at foreign financial institutions supporting Russia’s war, restrict Russia’s access to certain US software and information technology services, and target over 300 individuals and entities “whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort,” the US Department of Treasury said. All the G7 leaders, meanwhile, reached an agreement to loan money to Ukraine backed by the profits from frozen Russian investments, an official said.
• The looming US election: The pledge is an “executive agreement" making it less formal than a treaty and not necessarily binding for any future presidents. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has not explicitly said whether he would continue support for Ukraine if he wins in November, saying only that he would negotiate a quick end to the Russia-Ukraine war without explaining how.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that the bilateral security pact that Ukraine and the United States signed on Thursday will serve as a bridge to Kyiv's attempt to join NATO.

“It states that America supports Ukraine's future membership in NATO and recognizes that our security agreement is a bridge to Ukraine's membership in NATO,” Zelensky said at a news conference with US President Joe Biden.

“It is very important for all Ukrainians and for all Europeans to know that there will be no security deficit in Europe, which tempts the aggressor to war and makes the future uncertain," he added.

President Joe Biden said that US air defense system support will continue to focus on Ukraine, and that other countries expecting that same support will have to wait.

"We have acquired commitment from five countries, so far, for Patriot batteries and other air defense systems — as well as we've let it be known for those countries that are expecting, from us, air defense systems in the future, that they're going to have to wait. Everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met. And then we will make good on the commitments we made to other countries," Biden said.

Some background: The US-made Patriot air defense system that Biden referenced is among the most complex and prized contributions the country has made to Ukraine's war efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has received assurances from Chinese leadership that they will not supply weapons to Russia in their war against Ukraine. 

“I had phone conversation with the leader of China, by phone. He said that he will not sell any weapon to Russia,” Zelensky said.

“We’ll see. … If he is respectable person, he will not. Because he gave me (his) word.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States and leaders like President Joe Biden have supported Ukraine in its war against Russia because of their countries' shared values — something he says he thinks will continue as the US heads into a presidential election this fall.

"They work based on the voice of their people and it is impossible without people," Zelensky, who was speaking Ukrainian, said of US leaders.

“I am sure that this nation chooses leaders and presidents … and it seems to me that no matter whom the nation chooses, first and foremost, it seems to me that everything depends on the unity within this or that state — and if the people are with us, any leader will be with us in this struggle for freedom," he added, according to a realtime translator.

Zelensky and Biden are giving remarks after signing a security agreement between their two countries on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy on Thursday.

The agreement is an “executive agreement,” making it less formal than a treaty and not necessarily binding for any future presidents.

Former President Donald Trump, who is the GOP frontrunner, previously pledged to end the war in Ukraine, though he’s offered no details on how he would do so. “Shortly after I win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled,” Trump said at a New Hampshire campaign event last year, adding in another speech that it would take him “no longer than one day” to settle the war if elected.

US President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support for his son, Hunter Biden, in the first in-person comments the president has made since his son's conviction on federal gun charges on Tuesday.

"I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter," the president said. "He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know.”

Biden said he would not pardon his son, restating a commitment he made last week, before Hunter Biden was convicted.

At the end of the news conference, Biden also responded "no" to a shouted question asking whether he would consider commuting his son's sentence. Hunter Biden has not yet received his sentence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked what he called a "truly historic day" after signing a bilateral security pact between his country and the United States.

“We have signed the strongest agreement within Ukraine and the US since our independence," the president said at a news conference with US President Joe Biden. The world leaders are gathered for the G7 summit in Italy.

Zelensky said the agreement benefits everyone because Russia is a “real global threat.”

“This is an agreement on security and thus on the protection of human life. This is an agreement on cooperation and thus on how our nations will become stronger. This is an agreement on steps to guarantee sustainable peace and therefore it benefits everyone in the world," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president thanked Biden and Americans listening at home — comments that come after a congressional fight over additional US funding for Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said the US remains steadfast in its support of Ukraine, as he attends the G7 Summit in Italy seeking to shore up American alliances.

Russia’s war, Biden said after signing a long-term security deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has been a “test for the world.”

“Would we stand with Ukraine?” Biden said. “Would we stand for sovereignty, freedom, and against tyranny?”

“The United States, the G7 and countries around the world have consistently answered that question by saying yes we will. We will say it again … we’re going to stand with Ukraine.”