US President Joe Biden has promised to make available five new strategic air defence systems to Ukraine to counter relentless attacks from Russia, while delivering a forceful speech welcoming Nato leaders to Washington DC.
Biden, who delivered a brief but strongly worded speech at the opening of the summit, described the military alliance as being more formidable than ever as it faced a “pivotal moment” in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Biden said the US would partner with Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania to donate Patriot missile batteries and other systems to assist Ukraine in protecting armless civilians in the conflict.
Biden’s pledge comes just two days after a Russian missile leveled a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, an attack described by the city’s mayor as being among the worst since the beginning of the war.
The blasts from the attack on Monday resulted in the death of 43 people across the country, while over a hundred more were injured, according to officials. Though Russia did not accept responsibility for the attack, the UN and analysts who spoke to BBC Verify, blamed Moscow for the strike.
Nato plans to donate five strategic air defence systems and dozens of smaller, strategic anti-air batteries in total over the coming year, an aid the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky has spent months pleading with his Western allies for.
“The war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country,” Biden said on Tuesday afternoon. “Russia will not prevail. Ukraine will prevail.”
President Biden spoke for about 13 minutes in a clear voice, and with such confidence different from his fumbling tone during last month’s presidential debate with Trump.
Biden, who delivered his welcome speech in a manner which seemed pitched to reassure supporters both home and abroad that he can fight off an election challenge from Donald Trump, warned that “autocrats” had overturned global order.
Source: BBC News
