BREAKING NEWS: President Biden Holds A Briefing With Ukraine's Zelensky After G7 Agreement
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NewsTranscript
00:00Both leaders will now sign an historic new bilateral security agreement between the United
00:18States and Ukraine.
00:48Good evening, everyone.
01:03Last year at the NATO Summit in Lithuania, the United States brought together every member
01:07of the G7 to sign a joint declaration of support for Ukraine.
01:12Twenty-five additional countries joined us quickly.
01:16Each agreed to forge a long-term bilateral commitment with Ukraine.
01:21President Zelensky and I have just now signed that agreement between the United States and
01:26Ukraine.
01:28Our goal is to strengthen Ukraine's credible defense and deterrence capabilities for the
01:33long term.
01:34A lasting peace for Ukraine must be underwritten by Ukraine's own ability to defend itself
01:40now and to deter future aggression any time in the future.
01:45The United States is going to help ensure that Ukraine can do both – not by sending
01:51American troops to fight in Ukraine, but by providing weapons and ammunition, expanding
01:56intelligence sharing, continuing to train brave Ukrainian troops at bases in Europe
02:01and the United States, enhancing interoperability between our militaries in line with NATO standards,
02:09investing in Ukraine's defense industrial base so in time – in time – they can supply
02:14their own weapons and munitions, working with Ukraine's partners to build a future
02:19force that is strong, sustainable, and resilient, and supporting Ukraine's economic recovery
02:26as well as its energy recovery after Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy
02:31grid with massive attacks in the futile attempt to break the will of the Ukrainian people.
02:37All these lines of efforts and others are laid out in this agreement.
02:41Additionally, the G7 achieved a significant outcome this week on the matter of Russia's
02:47frozen assets in Europe and other places outside of Russia.
02:53Back in 2022, two days after Russia's invasion, members of the G7 and the European Union worked
02:59together to freeze $280 billion in Russian Central Bank funds outside of Russia.
03:07I'm very pleased to share that this week – this week, the G7 signed a plan to finalize
03:13and unlock $50 billion from the proceeds of those frozen assets to put that money to work
03:19for Ukraine, another reminder to Putin we're not backing down.
03:24In fact, we're standing together against this illegal aggression.
03:28The agreement that President Zelensky and I just signed also lays out our shared vision
03:32for a just peace, a peace rooted in the UN Charter and the principles of sovereignty
03:37and territorial integrity, a peace with a broad base of support around the world that
03:43holds Russia accountable for the damage it has done in this war.
03:47We will see this vision strongly affirmed at the historic peace conference happening
03:52in Switzerland this weekend, where Vice President Harris will represent the United States.
03:56Finally, this agreement accelerates Ukraine's integration into the European, Atlantic, transatlantic
04:02communities.
04:03It includes major commitments from Ukraine to impact – to implement democratic, economic,
04:11and security reforms in line with the European Union's accession goals and NATO's programs
04:17of reform.
04:19While we take this step, the United States is also intensifying pressure on Russia.
04:24Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department made clear any bank anywhere in the world that
04:30deals with sanctioned Russian banks, companies, or individuals risk being sanctioned themselves.
04:36And we announced roughly 300 new sanctions on individuals and companies that are helping
04:42Russia with war effort.
04:44They include key parts of Russia's financial sector – I'll wait until it goes over
04:56– as well as individual and entities that supply Russia with items critical to its defense
05:01production, like microelectronics, machine tools, and industrial materials.
05:08We also – we also sanctioned more Russian future energy projects, that Russia's natural
05:13gas oil projects that are under construction and are not yet fully operated.
05:18Putin is counting on revenues from these projects.
05:21Our sanctions will disrupt those plans.
05:23Plus, at the G7, we discussed our shared concern about countries like China for resources supplying
05:30Russia with materials they need for their war machine.
05:33And we agreed to taking collective action to push back against that activity.
05:39Let me close with this.
05:40We've taken three major steps at the G7 that collectively show Putin we cannot – he
05:46cannot wait us out, he cannot divide us, and we'll be with Ukraine until they prevail
05:51in this war.
05:52First, is the bilateral security agreement just signed.
05:56Second, historic agreement to provide $50 billion in value from Russian sovereign assets
06:01to Ukraine.
06:02And third, an agreement to ensure our sanctions efforts disrupt third countries that are supplying
06:07Russia's war efforts.
06:08That will increase pressure on the Russian economy.
06:11Collectively, this is a powerful set of actions and will create a stronger foundation for
06:16Ukraine's success.
06:18Two and a half years ago, Putin unleashed a brutal war on Ukraine, and it's been a
06:22horrifying deal for the Ukrainian people who are so brave and incredible.
06:26It also been a test for the world.
06:29Would we stand with Ukraine?
06:31Would we stand for sovereignty, freedom, and against tyranny?
06:34The United States, the G7, and countries around the world have consistently answered the question
06:39by saying, yes, we will.
06:41We will say it again.
06:42Yes, again and again and again, we're going to stand with Ukraine.
06:46Thank you.
06:47And I now yield to my friend from Ukraine, President.
06:50Thank you so much, Mr. President Biden, dear President, dear journalists, dear Ukrainians,
06:59dear Americans.
07:01And thank you so much.
07:03Thanks Italy and Georgia for the invitation.
07:07Dear friends, today is a truly historic day, and we have signed the strongest agreement
07:14between Ukraine and the U.S. since our independence.
07:23And this is an agreement on security and, thus, on the protection of human life.
07:30This is an agreement on cooperation and, thus, on how our nations will become stronger.
07:37This is an agreement on steps to guarantee sustainable peace, and, therefore, it benefits
07:44everyone in the world because the Russian war against Ukraine is a real, real global
07:51threat.
07:52I thank you very much, Mr. President, for your leadership, which is reflected in particular
08:00in this agreement and in your years of support for Ukraine.
08:06I thank our teams, both teams.
08:10Thanks very much for making sure that the details of the agreement are really good.
08:16And of course, I want to thank every Ukrainian soldier, all our people whose courage made
08:24this level of alliance between Ukraine and the United States possible.
08:30And I am proud of our people and what Ukraine can do.
08:33And I'm very grateful to all Americans, to everyone in America who strengthens American
08:41leadership.
08:43So under the points of the agreement, first, the agreement contains a very detailed, legally
08:50binding part, and this means the credibility of America's support for our Ukrainian independence.
09:00Secondly, security commitments from the United States are based, among other things, on the
09:05sustainability of security and defense support, not only for the duration of this war, but
09:13also for the period of peace after the war.
09:18And we will definitely ensure peace.
09:21Third, it clearly states that America supports Ukraine's efforts to win this war.
09:29Of course, the agreement has good provisions on weapons for our defense, very specifically
09:35on the Patriot systems, very specifically on the supply of fighter squadrons to Ukraine.
09:43That's right, plural, squadrons, including, but not limited to, F-16s.
09:50We have worked for a long time for these.
09:53The agreement is also very specific about the supply of the necessary weapons, joint
09:59production, and strengthening of the defense industries of our countries through our cooperation.
10:07And this is something that will not only provide security, but also new good jobs for Ukrainians
10:15and Americans.
10:16The agreement also outlines what is needed in terms of intelligence information.
10:23The agreement contains key aspects of protecting the lives of our people.
10:30Fifth, it is very important that the agreement also addresses the issue of Russia's just
10:37responsibility for this war and its attempts to destroy Ukrainians.
10:43Russia supports both fair compensation for the damage caused by Russian strikes and
10:48working out ways to ensure that frozen Russian assets are used to protect and rebuild Ukraine.
10:58The agreement also includes sanctions and expert controls that will make Russia feel
11:04the pain for what it is doing against the freedom of peoples.
11:11And two more things.
11:13I am grateful that the philosophy of our security agreement is, in fact, the philosophy of the
11:20alliance, and that is why the issue of NATO is covered through the text of the agreement.
11:28It states that America supports Ukraine's future, future membership in NATO, and recognizes
11:36that our security agreement is a breach to Ukraine's membership in NATO.
11:42It is very important for all Ukrainians and for all Europeans to know that there will
11:48be no security deficit in Europe, which tempts the aggressor to war and makes the future
11:55uncertain.
11:57Now we are clearly defining everything.
12:01We will cooperate, cooperate for the sake of victory, make peace guarantees effective,
12:07and provide the necessary security for our people.
12:11And thank you, Mr. President, for your leadership in the G7's decision on 50 billion loan for
12:20Ukraine.
12:21It's a vital step forward in providing sustainable support for Ukraine in winning this war.
12:28Non-immobilized assets should be used for defending lives of Ukrainians from Russian
12:37terror and for repaying the damage aggressor caused to Ukraine.
12:42It's fair and absolutely right.
12:45Mr. President, thank you, your team.
12:47I would also like to thank the United States Congress for their support, both parties,
12:53both chambers.
12:54Thank you, and thanks to every American heart that does not betray freedom and supports
13:01us.
13:02Slava Ukraina!
13:03Thank you.
13:04Now what we'll do is we're going to take two questions from American reporters and two
13:15– a question each from two American reporters and a question each from two Ukrainian reporters.
13:22The first – the first person I'm going to call on is Colleen Long of the Associated
13:26Press.
13:27Thank you.
13:28Thanks, Mr. President.
13:29About two weeks ago, you changed course to allow Ukraine to fire U.S. weapons into Russia.
13:40Given the reported successes, would you consider further expanding the parameters on U.S. weapons
13:45into Russia, even despite your concerns about escalation?
13:48And on the news from home, you're going through something that so many American families
13:52go through, the intersection of addiction and the criminal justice system, but you're
13:57not like most families.
13:59Was your son able to get a fair trial?
14:01Do you believe the Justice Department operated independently of politics?
14:07And for President –
14:08Let me answer your question and you ask his question, okay?
14:11With regard to the first question, it is clear that the near abroad – meaning just
14:20across the line of the border with Russia and Ukraine – that it makes a lot of sense
14:26for Ukraine to be able to take out or combat what is coming across that border.
14:33In terms of long-range weapons, longer-range weapons into the interior of Russia, we have
14:39not changed our position on that sort.
14:41With regard to the question regarding the family, I'm extremely proud of my son, Hunter.
14:47He has overcome an addiction.
14:48He is one of the brightest, most decent men I know.
14:53And I am satisfied that I'm not going to do anything – I said I abide by the jury
14:59decision and I will do that, and I will not pardon him.
15:07And for President Zelensky, a number of leaders here in Italy, including President Biden,
15:13are facing upcoming election challenges.
15:15How will the security agreement signed tonight and the other promises of support continue
15:22if they are not in office?
15:24And what's your contingency plan if they don't?
15:34Thank you for this question.
15:38May I ask?
15:43First and foremost, I'd like to thank the people of the nations, first and foremost,
15:47to the United States, to the countries in Europe and on other continents who have supported
15:52us since the very beginning of – the beginning of this absolutely unjust war of Russia against
15:57the people of Ukraine.
16:00That is it.
16:01This war was unjust since the very beginning, the war of this evil, whose name is Putin,
16:22the war against the people of Ukraine, and he has killed so many people.
16:27To say that it is not him, there was a military man who did it, the last one is just an instrument
16:34of his, and he is playing this instrument, and therefore it is important for us that
16:39since the very beginning we were supported by people, by nations, because they understood
16:44that we share common values, we simply want to live, and the people understood, they imagined
16:50what will happen if such evil attacks them, and therefore we were supported by people.
16:57And I thank President Biden and all the leaders who, since the very beginning of the invasion,
17:02Putin's invasion, started to support us, they – based on their values, they were – based
17:09on the voice of their people, and it is impossible without people.
17:15And I am sure that this nation chooses leaders and presidents, and it seems to me that no
17:26matter whom the nation chooses, first and foremost, it seems to me that everything depends
17:34on the unity within this or that state, and if the people are with us, any leader will
17:41be with us in this struggle for freedom.
17:44MODERATOR Do you want to call on a Ukrainian reporter?
17:49FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROVSKY Yeah, yeah, yeah, with pleasure, thank you so much.
17:52Telekanal Inter.
17:53QUESTION Yes, please, Inter.
17:54QUESTION Irina Ivanova, Inter TV Channel Ukraine, and
17:55I have a question for both leaders.
18:02So today during the G7 meeting, the discussion focused on developing Ukraine's air defense
18:07system based on the most advanced Western complexes and also on enhancing long-range
18:12capabilities.
18:14So my question is, can you provide any details on the initiative and about the readiness
18:18of our allies to take part in it?
18:21Thank you.
18:22SECRETARY KERRY I'd be happy to respond to that.
18:25We have acquired commitment from five countries so far for Patriot batteries and other air
18:32defense systems, as well as we've let it be known to those countries that are expecting
18:38from us air defense systems in the future that they're going to have to wait.
18:43Everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met, and then we will
18:48make good on the commitments we made to other countries.
18:51FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROVSKY I think President Biden already answered
18:54your question.
18:55Actually, he knows and all other partners, they know that urgently we need seven Patriot
19:04systems, yes, to save our cities.
19:07Not all of them, it's a pity, but urgently seven.
19:11And we discussed the possibility of having five of them, it's true, but the partners
19:18work on it.
19:19It doesn't mean that tomorrow we will have these five systems, but we see in the closest
19:24future good result for Ukraine.
19:27SECRETARY KERRY You'll have some relatively quickly.
19:31American reporter, Josh Weingroh-Bloomberg.
19:34QUESTION Thank you, Mr. President.
19:39I have a question for President Zelensky shortly on the announcements, but if you don't mind,
19:43I'd like to ask you about your discussions on the situation in Gaza here at the summit.
19:49You were asked just a short time ago about it after the skydiving demonstration.
19:54Can you give us your assessment of Hamas's response, and do you believe that they are
20:00trying to work towards a deal, or is this response working against a deal?
20:05And what is your message to allies, including those here at the G7, about what more, if
20:10anything, the U.S. can do to drive towards a peace agreement?
20:14Thank you.
20:15PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN I wish you guys would play by the rules a
20:18little bit.
20:19I'm here to talk about a critical situation in Ukraine, and you're asking me another subject.
20:24I'll be happy to answer it in detail later, but the bottom line is that we've made an
20:29agreement – I've laid out an approach that has been endorsed by the UN Security Council,
20:35by the G7, by the Israelis, and the biggest hang-up so far is Hamas refusing to sign on,
20:44even though they have submitted something similar.
20:48Whether or not it comes to fruition remains to be seen.
20:51We're going to continue to push.
20:52I don't have a final answer for you.
20:54QUESTION And to President Biden's point, a question
20:59about today's discussions.
21:02President Zelensky, the $50 billion today, you've had the supplemental, of course,
21:07from the U.S. Congress recently.
21:09Can you give us an assessment of the situation on the battlefield right now, and what has
21:15been given now?
21:17How long will this get you in terms of either stopping the Russian advance or making headway
21:23on this?
21:25And how long will it last you if, indeed, future leaders or current leaders are unable
21:30to reach consensus on further aid packages?
21:33And President Biden, I'd welcome your assessment of the situation currently on the battlefield,
21:37and what difference the supplemental has made as well, sir.
21:39Thank you.
21:40FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROVSKY Thank you for your question.
21:51Indeed, we were expecting the fundamental package of the support within the Congress
21:58of the United States of America, and truly, it was a long pause for our warriors, first
22:04and foremost.
22:05But most importantly, we are grateful that in the very end we have this supplement, and
22:11this will for sure strengthen our warriors.
22:13Yes, this has given the opportunity to the enemy within this pause to try to occupy Kharkiv,
22:23but that attempt was stopped by our warriors.
22:27They were repelled.
22:29The enemy was repelled, and we, despite everything, disrupted all their plans.
22:34And it seems to me that that is the most important thing.
22:38What this supplement that will arrive gives us, it enables us to fully equip the reserves,
22:45those guys, those brigades that are ready, so that they provide for the opportunity to
22:54rotate our units on the battlefield, so that they can have some rest, so that the brigades
22:59can regenerate, so that other brigades enter the battlefield instead of them with equipment.
23:06This is what the supplement gives them, so the raise of morale, but also the raise of
23:11strength of our brigades.
23:13And it seems to me that this is the most important.
23:16For how long this will be enough?
23:18Look, we, without package, have been holding the lines for eight months, and the Russians
23:23had no successes.
23:25And therefore, the question of for how long it will be enough, no, I think the question
23:33has to be for how long the unity will last, the unity in the United States together with
23:38the European leaders, how these or those elections will influence this unity.
23:44It seems to me that we should look on this exactly this way, to preserve unity, to preserve
23:51the integrity of the world, integrity of the democratic world, because if Ukraine does
23:59not withstand, the democracy of many countries will not be able to withstand, and I am sure
24:05of that.
24:06By the way, the idea that we had to wait till we pass the legislation overall, even held
24:12up by a small majority of our Republican colleagues, is just terrible.
24:17And there's a lot more money coming beyond what's already come in the other tranches
24:22that are available now that we've passed the legislation.
24:25So they'll have what they need and get it there as quickly as they possibly can.
24:29Thank you so much, Mr. President.
24:32Telegraph, please.
24:34Telegraph, please.
24:36Good evening.
24:37My name is Yaroslav Zharinov, Telegraph UA.
24:40Thank you for this opportunity.
24:41I have a long way from Kyiv and have enough time to prepare such long question.
24:46Firstly, to Joe Biden.
24:48Mr. President, the additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act that you signed mandated
24:54the submission of strategy work for the war in Ukraine within 45 days after its enactment.
25:02This deadline passed on June 8th, and now yet the international community has not seen
25:10this strategy.
25:11Has it been developed?
25:12And if the strategy is classified, what step does your administration plan to take to hasten
25:18Ukraine victory in the war?
25:19It's my first question.
25:20The second will be to the President of the United States.
25:22What was the last part of your question?
25:25Has it been developed, this strategy, and what steps does your administration plan to
25:32take to victory Ukraine in the war?
25:35The steps we're going to take to make sure that it has – Ukraine has victory in that
25:42Russia does not prevail is continued support of what we just signed.
25:47We signed that, and a significant number of nations have signed it.
25:51We have convinced the G7 – convinced – we've got support of the G7, and quite frankly,
25:5648 other countries.
25:57We sat with the Prime Minister of Japan, South Korea.
26:02We have – 50 nations have signed up beyond the NATO and the G7.
26:08And so we're going to stay as long as it takes.
26:10With regard to the plan, that is a plan in process now.
26:14We're discussing with our Ukrainian friends exactly what it would be.
26:17We have a lot of movement toward that.
26:20We know the outlines of it.
26:22We have not done the detail of it all.
26:24But we know what Ukraine is capable of doing when given the material to defend themselves,
26:30and that's exactly what they're doing now.
26:34And my second question is to President Zelensky.
26:39It will be in Ukraine.
26:40And recently, you have made a couple of sharp statements regarding China, and there are
26:46rumors in press regarding the possible supplies of Russia's weapons to China.
26:50Apart from that, China is actively promoting its own peace plan among certain countries.
26:56What are the motives of Beijing now, and would it be possible to change the vision of China
27:01regarding our war, and which role the U.S. can play in this?
27:03And the final question, is China a partner of Russia in these crimes that it commits?
27:11Okay.
27:12Yes, I understand that your trip was long.
27:15So the – first of all, I had phone conversation with a leader of China by phone.
27:28He said that he will not sell any weapon to Russia.
27:33That is the first.
27:34We'll see with you.
27:35We'll see.
27:36But he said to me, if he is respectable person, he will not, because he gave me the word.
27:44The second, our – you know that – you know very good with details our peace formula.
27:50It's very open for everybody, basing on charter.
27:54Yes, your nation.
27:55And you know that it bases on next principles – territorial integrity, sovereignty,
28:06nuclear security, food security.
28:11If China has alternative view on it, it can prepare alternative peace formula.
28:22If we share common views on it, like with – globally, with all the world, I think so.
28:29So if they share the same way to peace, we will find dialogue.
28:37By the way, China is not supplying weapons, but the ability to produce those weapons
28:43and the technology available to do it.
28:45So it is, in fact, helping Russia.
28:49Thank you all so very much.
28:50This concludes our press conference.
28:52Thank you everybody.