NATO Strengthens Support For Ukraine As Biden Faces Increasing Pressure

US President Joe Biden/PHOTO via Instagram @jobiden

JAKARTA - NATO leaders will end the summit with a clear focus on supporting Ukraine and fighting what allies call Russia's growing threat to Europe, as US President Joe Biden faces growing calls from NATO members.

Democratic Party is said to be canceling Biden's efforts to be re-elected.

Biden, 81, will hold a rare single press conference on Thursday, July 11, where journalists will definitely question his candidacy in the presidential election on November 5, although he hopes to change the narrative.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, July 11, European leaders fear the US presidential election in November will result in major changes in Washington's support for Ukraine and NATO.

Republican candidate Donald Trump, 78, questioned the amount of aid provided to Ukraine to counter Russia's invasion and US support for its allies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will also hold a press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday after meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers at the US Capitol Building on Wednesday, July 10.

Ukrainian leaders, who wish to strengthen ties with US lawmakers from both political camps if Trump is re-elected, meet Senate leaders and the House of Representatives as well as committee members involved in defense, spending, diplomacy, and national security.

Zelenskyy told reporters he invited Mike Johnson, the leader of the Republican US House of Representatives, to visit Kyiv.

In a clear warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the United States on Wednesday said it would begin deploying long-range missiles in Germany by 2026, America's most powerful weapons based on the European continent since the Cold War.

The NATO declaration also said allies would provide at least 40 billion euros (43.28 billion US dollars) in military aid next year, although they did not fulfill Stoltenberg's multi-year commitments. NATO members also promised to continue supporting Ukraine "on an irreversible path to full integration of the Euro-Atlantics, including NATO membership".

Biden, who will host a support show for Ukraine, argues NATO is "stronger than ever" and Ukraine can and will stop Russian leader Putin with our full and collective support.

The increasingly resistance US President hosted a dinner for NATO allies and partners at the White House on Wednesday, underscoring the alliance's role in ensuring "freedom, security and democracy" for all its citizens.

He also met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

Although Biden is trying to raise Democratic Party allies and voters, some high-ranking European officials met with Trump's foreign policy advisers during the summit.

On Wednesday, Trump told Fox News Radio he would not pull the US out of NATO but insisted that he wanted his member states to pay more.

"I just want them to pay their bills. We protect Europe. They really take advantage of us," he said.

Trump has pressured Republican Congressmen to stop military aid for Ukraine before turning around earlier this year.

Biden's unbalanced performance in the June 27 debate against Trump and low public support ratings have raised new doubts about his mental fitness, with nine Democratic Congressmen and one Democratic senator calling for him to step down.

Zelenskiy urged US political leaders in a speech on Tuesday not to wait for the results of the US elections before moving decisively to help Ukraine and called for a reduction in restrictions on the use of US weapons.