U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an event marking the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance in Washington, U.S., July 9, 2024.
Eves Herman | Reuters
President Joe Biden announced new commitments to help bolster Ukraine’s air defenses against Russia in a speech marking NATO’s 75th anniversary on Tuesday.
“Putin wants nothing less than the complete subjugation of Ukraine to end its democracy,” Biden said. “We know that Putin will not stop in Ukraine. But make no mistake: Ukraine can stop Putin, and it will, especially if it has our full support.”
The support includes new batteries and components for Patriot missile systems donated by the United States, Germany, Romania, the Netherlands and other partners. Italy is donating additional SAMP-T missile systems.
Biden said via teleprompter that more air defense equipment would be delivered to Ukraine in the coming months.
The announcement comes two years after Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine led by President Vladimir Putin began, a war that remains a source of debate on Capitol Hill as lawmakers remain divided over whether to continue funding Ukraine’s defense.
Biden’s speech also marked the latest example of the divisive picture that will loom ahead at the 2024 NATO summit this week, with the president’s political future within the Democratic Party hanging in the balance as he holds crucial talks with foreign allies.
Authorities in Washington, D.C. are preparing for the NATO summit, including blocking roads around the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the White House and increasing security measures.
Sellal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images
The president’s remarks Tuesday were another opportunity to placate Democrats concerned about a 2024 presidential run after his dismal performance in a June debate with former President Donald Trump.
Since then, a rift has developed within the Democratic Party, with some lawmakers, donors and strategists publicly urging Biden to drop out of the race so a new candidate can emerge.
Earlier Tuesday, Rep. Mickey Sherrill (D-N.J.) joined a growing number of Democrats formally calling for Biden to resign.
While some have expressed concerns in private meetings, public statements have expressed continued support for the president.
While some Democrats remain cautious about their concerns about the president’s electability, many have publicly pointed to this week’s NATO summit as an added pressure amid growing doubts about his reelection chances.
The summit is a case in point, showing Democrats’ growing anxiety about losing to Trump in November. The former president has said he would consider withdrawing the U.S. from a 32-nation military alliance if he wins a second term.
“Americans know that we are stronger with our friends, and that this is a sacred duty,” Biden said in his NATO speech.
Since his June 27 debate blunder, Biden has made several public appearances to try to rebuild his credibility as a candidate, including a 22-minute interview with ABC News last Friday. So far, his public appearances have failed to assuage Democrats’ concerns.
“The president needs to interact with voters to prove to the skeptics that he can do the job,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, said in a Sunday broadcast interview about the week ahead. “If he can’t do that, then he’s going to have to make a decision.”
Biden is scheduled to hold a solo news conference Thursday evening, a much-anticipated opportunity to demonstrate that he can engage with reporters in an unscripted setting.
