2023-07-03 14:45:00
US President Joe Biden will visit the UK, Lithuania and Finland from the 9th to the 13th, encouraging the international community to unite and actively intervene in support of Ukraine’s ‘counterattack’ against Russia.
The White House confirmed the schedule on the 2nd.
President Biden will first head to England to meet with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
In this regard, Buckingham Palace revealed that a meeting between President Biden and King Charles III would be held on the 10th.
President Biden previously sent his wife Jill instead at the coronation of Charles III in May.
However, President Biden has continued to communicate with Prime Minister Sunak, who visited the United States last month, at a White House meeting, promising to cooperate in continuing support for Ukraine.
READ ALSO: US-UK Announce ‘Atlantic Declaration’ for 21st Century Partnership
◼︎ NATO Summit on the 11th and 12th
President Biden will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO · NATO) Summit held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, for two days from the 11th following a visit to the UK.
This summit is considered one of the most important international events related to the second year of the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently requested active additional support, saying that the Ukrainian army has successfully launched a large-scale offensive to recapture the southeastern region occupied by Russia while carrying out a ‘counteroffensive’.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also visited the White House on the 13th of last month, and together with President Biden, confirmed Western countries’ support for Ukraine once again.
President Biden, along with the NATO delegation, said future member states had agreed to secure 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) for defense.
See also: President Biden-NATO Secretary-General’s meeting “Progress in Ukraine”
The White House also mentioned the issue of Sweden, which is not joining NATO due to Turkey’s opposition, on pending issues to be addressed at this NATO summit.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is protesting repeated Koran burning protests in Sweden and is blocking NATO’s agreement to join Sweden, saying that Sweden is complacent in responding to terrorist groups and security threats.
See also: Opening of EU summit, discussions on aid to Ukraine…Swedish Koran burning protest
In addition, this summit is attracting attention as it is being held amidst a situation where Ukraine is conducting a ‘counterattack’ and the situation has become complicated due to the Wagner group’s armed rebellion against the Russian government on the 24th of last month.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the summit will be attended by the leaders of four Asia-Pacific countries (AP4), including Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to NATO member countries.
President Biden then concludes this trip with a visit to Finland.
Finland joined NATO as its 31st member in April.
The biggest focus of President Biden’s five-day trip to Europe is the NATO summit, and in particular, the visit to Finland is a visit to celebrate that Finland finally joined NATO in April this year and became one of the 31 member states. work explained.
■ Zelensky compares Putin to a ‘wolf’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 2nd that “it is extremely rare that a wolf can be tamed.”
President Zelensky visited a hospital in the southern port city of Odessa that day to encourage wounded soldiers and said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, “We have to respond to him in the way Putin is sensitive to power.” “Do you want to tame the wolf?”
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This remark came in the process of dismissing observations of the end of the war and peace negotiations.
Zelensky reiterated that there was no possibility of compromise for a deal with Putin, adding that “the international community must isolate Putin.”
As for the reason, “Putin and Russian elites have lost contact with reality,” he explained, “and do not understand the cost of human life by conquering territory against the will of the people.”
“It’s important to avoid feeling like you’re floating in the sky, and to keep your feet in the real world,” he said.
■ Western support ‘speed’ emphasized
Zelensky also said that Ukraine must have a special advantage if it wants to deal with a bigger enemy (Russia). “We have to be faster than Russia,” he said.
It is an emphasis on speed in Western military support.
President Zelensky thanked the support, but said it was “personally still incomprehensible”, saying that procurement was less than needed and was being done slowly.
Regarding the soldiers he met that day, President Zelensky said, “The soldiers are as strong as steel, and I must not be weaker than them.”
“I have no right to appear weak,” he added. “Although sometimes those moments come, it has to be when I’m alone.”
President Zelensky also said that he is 45 years old compared to President Putin, who is 70 years old, and has youth, vitality and humanity.
◼︎ Prospects for the 2024 US Presidential Election
Meanwhile, President Zelensky said, “No matter who wins the next US presidential election (to be held next year), the most important thing for Ukraine is to maintain bipartisan support in the United States.” He said at a press conference with the Spanish press.
The US administration, led by Democratic President Joe Biden, is actively supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
It is also leading international aid to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
Republicans are split on support for Ukraine.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is running for the presidency, has argued for strong support, saying that helping Ukraine is in the national interest.
Former Vice President Pence visited Ukraine on the 29th of last month and expressed strong support.
READ ALSO: Former US Vice President Pence Makes Surprise Visit to Ukraine: “America is the Leader of the Free World…Determined to Support Strongly”
Among the primary runners, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott have also urged continued support.
On the other hand, former President Trump and Florida Governor Ron Disantis, who are leading in the approval ratings of various primary candidates, are keeping the ‘isolationism’ point of view, arguing that limited support is correct.
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