President Joe Biden forcefully defended the foreign policy achievements of his presidency as he welcomed NATO member states to a Washington summit on Tuesday that is being closely watched by allies at home and abroad for proof the embattled U.S. president can still lead. Biden, 81, has endured 12 days of withering questions about his fitness for office as some of his fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill and campaign donors fear that he will lose the Nov. 5 election after a halting debate performance on June 27. “(Vladimir) Putin wants nothing less, nothing less, than Ukraine’s total subjugation … and to wipe Ukraine off the map,” Biden said, referring to the Russian president. “Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
Quick Read
- Biden forcefully defends foreign policy achievements at NATO summit amid scrutiny over fitness for office.
- Defense of Presidency: Biden, 81, addresses NATO leaders in Washington, defending his foreign policy record and emphasizing U.S. leadership.
- Context: Biden’s speech follows 12 days of intense scrutiny over his debate performance and fitness for office, with some Democrats urging him to step aside.
- Key Quotes: Biden asserts, “Putin wants nothing less than Ukraine’s total subjugation … Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
- White House Goal: Biden aims to demonstrate his capability to lead and turn focus away from debate performance speculation.
- Party Support: Despite concerns, Biden maintains support from most Democratic elites, continuing his campaign against Republican Donald Trump.
- Foreign Policy Focus: Biden highlights restoring U.S. alliances, contrasting with Trump’s “America First” approach.
- Trump’s Stance: Trump suggests he may not defend NATO members not meeting defense spending targets and questions aid to Ukraine.
- Summit Priorities: New commitments for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and steps toward its NATO membership.
- Zelenskyy’s Push: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Washington, advocating for stronger air defenses and F-16 fighter jets.
- NATO Developments: Announcement of new military command in Germany for training Ukrainian troops and a senior representative in Kyiv.
- Defense Production: NATO leaders pledge to boost arms production, including a $700 million order for Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
- Biden’s Meetings: Zelenskyy to meet Biden at the White House on Thursday; Biden’s opening NATO speech emphasizes a stronger, more united alliance.
- International Concerns: Allies watch closely for signs of Biden’s political resilience amidst speculation about his staying power.
- European Political Climate: Uncertainty in Europe with political challenges in France, Germany, and the UK.
- Ukraine’s NATO Aspirations: Debate on ensuring Ukraine’s irreversible path toward NATO membership, despite concerns about provoking Russia.
- Russian War Outlook: NATO official estimates Russia can sustain war for 3-4 more years but lacks immediate capacity for a major offensive.
The Associated Press has the story:
President Biden tells NATO in a forceful speech ‘Ukraine will stop Putin’
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, (AP) –
President Joe Biden forcefully defended the foreign policy achievements of his presidency as he welcomed NATO member states to a Washington summit on Tuesday that is being closely watched by allies at home and abroad for proof the embattled U.S. president can still lead.
Biden, 81, has endured 12 days of withering questions about his fitness for office as some of his fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill and campaign donors fear that he will lose the Nov. 5 election after a halting debate performance on June 27. “(Vladimir) Putin wants nothing less, nothing less, than Ukraine’s total subjugation … and to wipe Ukraine off the map,” Biden said, referring to the Russian president. “Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
In addition, he said that in the coming months the United States and others will provide dozens of other tactical air defense systems and hundreds of munitions for them.
The announcement was made with much fanfare as the summit opened at the Mellon Auditorium, where the North Atlantic Treaty was first signed in 1949, establishing NATO. There both Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke urgently about the importance of the alliance and the need to stand together in support of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants nothing less than to “wipe Ukraine off the map,” Biden said. “And we know Putin won’t stop in Ukraine. But make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”
“Today I’m announcing a historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington. “The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will provide Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems.”
The White House is hoping he can turn the page on speculation with his speech, in which he spoke with a strong and confident voice and avoided any verbal flubs or signs of confusion that marked his debate performance. Biden has rebuffed calls to step aside in his race against Republican Donald Trump, 78, vowing to beat him in November. So far, he still has the support of most of his party’s elite.
The U.S. president has made restoring traditional U.S. alliances abroad the centerpiece of his foreign policy after Trump challenged allies as part of an “America First” approach. The winner in November could have a substantial impact on the future of NATO, Europe and the rest of the world.
Trump has suggested that, given a second term, he would not defend NATO members if they came under military attack and did not meet the alliance’s defense spending target of 2% of their respective GDP. He has also questioned the amount of aid given to Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s invasion. The centerpiece of the NATO summit was set to be new commitments of military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as well as a bridge for that war-torn country to join the 32-member alliance.
ZELENSKIY FIGHTS FOR MORE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Washington on Tuesday and said he would “fight” for NATO to strengthen Ukrainian air defenses and furnish it with more F-16 fighter jets, requests that Washington appeared poised to grant. “We are fighting for additional security guarantees for Ukraine – and these are weapons and finances, political support,” he said in a video on social media.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said NATO would announce a new military command in Germany for training and equipping Ukrainian troops and appoint a senior representative in Kyiv to deepen ties. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the summit would “further strengthen” Ukraine’s path to NATO membership.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told defense industry leaders in Washington that the leaders would pledge to enable arms makers across Europe and North America to produce more. He also said NATO has placed an order for Stinger anti-aircraft missiles worth almost $700 million in the name of several member states.
The shoulder-fired Stinger missiles have been in hot demand in Ukraine, where they have successfully stopped Russian assaults from the air, and in neighboring European countries which fear they may also need to beat back Russian forces.
Zelenskiy is due to meet with Biden at the White House on Thursday and is scheduled to deliver an address on Tuesday evening. After rebuffing calls from some fellow Democrats for Biden to step down, the White House hopes to turn the focus back to his ability to govern normally.
Aides said his opening speech at NATO would highlight what his administration sees as a key accomplishment: a stronger and more united NATO, under Washington’s leadership, with more members and a resolve to meet their collective security needs.
That brings, they say, tangible results for American voters: a safer country, with a strong international economic position, more alliances and power abroad, and less at risk of conflict with its adversaries.
Trump and many Republican allies reject such arguments.
BIDEN’S STAYING POWER?
NATO, celebrating its 75th anniversary, has found new purpose in opposing Putin’s Ukraine invasion and the grinding war will dominate private conversations between the leaders of the countries.
Those leaders, already anxious about the prospect of Trump’s return, came to Washington with fresh concern about Biden’s staying power, according to diplomats from their countries. One described Biden as bruised after a difficult political period and said their government was looking for signs about whether he would survive politically.
Biden will hold a rare solo press conference on Thursday, also aimed at quieting concerns. NATO leaders face political uncertainty in Europe, with paralysis looming in France after gains for left and far right parties and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition weakened after a poor showing in European Parliament elections.
New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said as he headed to his first NATO summit that he would fulfill a campaign commitment to increase UK defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, but underlined he would only do so when the country could afford it and after a review of defense strategy.
Ukraine ultimately wants to join NATO to ward against further future attacks by Russia but candidates have to be approved by all of the alliance’s members, some of which are wary of provoking a direct conflict with Russia.
Some members want the alliance to make clear Ukraine is moving toward NATO “irreversibly” and are keen for language in a summit statement beyond the alliance’s pledge last year that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO.”
A senior NATO official said on Tuesday Russia lacks the munitions and troops to start a major offensive in Ukraine and needs to secure significant ammunition supplies from other countries beyond what it already has.
But he estimated Russia would be able to sustain its war economy for three to four more years and also said “it will be some time” before Ukraine has amassed the munitions and personnel it needs to mount its own large-scale offensive operations.
