US and Ukraine sign 10-year military pact | BBC News

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Biden have signed a 10-year bilateral security deal between Ukraine and the US, hailed by Kyiv as "historic".

The agreement proposes US military and training aid to Ukraine - but it does not commit Washington to send troops to fight for its ally.

US President Joe Biden said it was another reminder to Russia "that we're not backing down”. However Moscow has threatened what it called “extremely painful" retaliatory measures.

G7 leaders meeting in Italy also agreed to use frozen Russian assets to raise $50bn (£39bn) for Ukraine to help it fight invading Russian forces.

The money is not expected to arrive until the end of 2024 but is seen as a longer-term solution to support Ukraine's war effort and economy.

Some $325bn worth of assets were frozen by the G7, alongside the EU, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The pot of assets is generating about $3bn a year in interest. Under the G7 plan that money will be used to pay off the annual interest on the $50bn loan for the Ukrainians, taken out on the international markets.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Vicki Young.

#BBCNews

[billyking]

How can uk and USA spend that sort of money to a foreign power when they both have people living in poverty on the street and veterans get treated like second class citizens it just not good enough I do know the Ukrainian people need help too why do we as a society spend more on killing each other than caring for those that need it most disgraceful

[larynOneka]

When are elections in Ukraine? Zelensky's terms has ended.

[michaelwilson]

OK, but where is Ukraine going to get the men to keep the current war of attrition going for another 10 years?

[WarriorsDepartoutNews]

Half part of Ukraine 🇺🇦 said signed a 10 year deal with USA 🇺🇸, do they keep their promise? The next president will abolish it 😂😂😂😂

[concernedcitizen]

Not legally binding until ratified.. which I’m guessing it won’t be.

[flesz_]

Leaders sign
People don't support it

[Jimmy]

This is a demonstrative PR move that should show the world that there is a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States. In fact, this pact does not play any role on the battlefield, and the outcome of the war does not depend on it. This is simply a document stating the already established fact of the supply of weapons and other aid.

[simon]

The title should be supposedly Rishi’s last presence on world stage instead of US and Ukraine.Seemingly BBC is well prepared for a new boss.

[captainjoejoe]

Do we really have to wait until November to get this loony out??

[JeffreySmith]

" I'm going to build a railroad across the Indian Ocean! Pause." Joey Cannibals Biden.

[paulTM]

Typical BBC I type in Brics and petrodollar and it gets blocked in the replies. No wonder you get almost zero views on twitter.

[techyon]

100 billion dollars each of US tax payer + 50 billion dollars of Russian Frozen Asset each year to Ukraine Damn Zelenskyy must be Billionaire now

[Mustafa-uqvw]

Yeah next president will say otherwise

[nadergilani]

They should be doing that for Afghanistan too…….

[tahoetom]

Trump will drop this like a hot potato!!!

[thomaskearney]

That’s 7 billion dollars each from countries that have borrowed to the hilt.

[michaelogden]

Automaton Joe is up to some serious political theater.

[leet]

Its looks like a 'spectre' meeting

[michellesinclair]

🙄 if the $50 Billion is from seized assets why is the money being loaned to Ukraine? Shouldnt it be donated? Why, because part of the loan agreement will ensure full access to Ukraine's resources and land access. Its shameful and deviant behaviour

[luihinwai]

That's why Saudi Arabia is moving away from the dollar for its oil. USD is not safe anymore. Petrodollar is done