Biden and Stoltenberg to the NATO summit: Russia must not be allowed to win

Biden concluded his welcome speech by awarding Stoltenberg America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

– Secretary-General, you have led this alliance through one of the most important periods in history, Biden said to the NATO chief, before the president then fastened the medal around Stoltenberg’s neck.

Before this closing session, it was Stoltenberg who opened the NATO summit. NATO’s support for Ukraine involves both costs and risks, Stoltenberg said in his opening speech.

– There are no risk-free options in war, NATO’s Secretary General told the assembly.

He said that a Russian victory in the war once morest Ukraine would strengthen Iran, North Korea and China, and that these countries would like to see NATO fail.

– The outcome of the Ukraine war will shape global security for decades to come. Our alliance is not something you can take for granted now. We must show the same courage in the future as we have done in the past, said the NATO chief.

Then it was Biden’s turn at the podium.

More military aid to Ukraine

– It is a pleasure to be able to host you in this historic year, and to look back with pride at everything we have achieved, and look forward to our common future with strength and determination, Biden told the assembly.

Biden announced that the United States, Germany, Romania, the Netherlands and Italy will supply Ukraine with five more strategic air defense systems, including Patriot systems. Furthermore, Ukraine will receive dozens of tactical air defense systems in the coming months, the president said.

But a high-ranking NATO diplomat tells NTB that the promises regarding air defense are not new.

The day before the summit began, Biden promised to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, without going into detail, but he said the aid would be announced at the summit. Last week, a senior US State Department official said Ukraine might expect “good news” regarding the country’s request for more air defense systems at the NATO summit.

Already on Friday 21 June, the Dutch Minister of Defense stated that his country, together with another unnamed country, will provide another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy thanks

After Biden’s speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi thanked NATO for the promise to send more air defense aid to the country.

– I thank our partners for strong support for Ukraine’s air defense systems so that the country can protect its population, cities and critical infrastructure, Zelensky wrote on X.

– Several Patriot systems, SAMP/T and IRIS-T SLM, as well as other tactical air defense systems that partners will hand over to Ukraine, will assist us in destroying Russian drones and missiles, and better protect Ukrainians once morest Russian air terror, as we saw during yesterday’s brutal attack once morest our most important children’s hospital, Zelenskyj wrote further.

A few minutes following Biden’s speech, the US State Department issued a message saying that there will be more announcements regarding additional support for Ukraine during the summit.

– Vladimir Putin wants nothing more than for Ukraine to be subjugated and for Ukraine to be removed from the map, Biden said in front of the gathering in Washington.

– Ukraine can and must stop Putin, said the president.

Biden bragged regarding Stoltenberg

– A bipartisan majority of Americans understand that NATO makes us all safer, Biden said further in the speech, which ended with him asking Stoltenberg to take the stage once more. There, Biden gave Stoltenberg (65) the president’s medal of freedom.

– You did not hesitate when Russia’s war began in Ukraine. NATO is stronger, smarter and more energetic than when you started, Biden told Stoltenberg.

– And a billion people in Europe and North America, yes, in the whole world, are going to reap the benefits of your efforts for years to come, in the form of security, opportunity and more freedom, said the president.

Biden boasted of what he called Stoltenberg’s calm temperament and described the outgoing Nato chief as “a man of integrity and intellectual power” and an “accomplished diplomat”.

Stoltenberg has led NATO since 2014. After ten years as Secretary General, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will take over the leadership position from October this year.

– Honored and humbled

– I am honored and humbled to have received the President’s Medal of Freedom. I see this as recognition, not only for myself, but for the millions of men and women who serve our great alliance, in and out of uniform. we stand stronger and safer together in NATO, wrote Stoltenberg on X following the speeches had been made.

The focus at the NATO summit, where the alliance celebrates 75 years, is expected to be on support for Ukraine. At the same time, allies are looking with a magnifying glass for evidence that Biden is still able to lead the world’s most powerful country and NATO’s largest contributor.

For twelve days, 81-year-old Biden has been peppered with questions regarding whether he is suitable to stand out in the presidential election campaign and fight once morest Donald Trump in the autumn presidential election, following the two met in a debate on June 27 and which triggered speculation regarding Biden’s state of health.