Joe Biden Vows Ukraine Will Stop Putin At NATO Summit In Washington

US President Joe Biden has pledged to keep defending Ukraine against Russia's invasion, firmly stating Ukraine can and will stop Putin. Biden's comments came during a NATO summit in Washington, celebrating the military alliance's 75th anniversary.

"We know Putin won't stop in Ukraine," Biden declared. "He aims to subjugate Ukraine completely, end its democracy, destroy its culture, and erase it from the map. But Ukraine can and will stop him."

In a surprise move, Biden awarded outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honor. He credited Stoltenberg with revitalizing the 32-member alliance. Stoltenberg, who will be replaced in October by former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukraine.

Stoltenberg warned NATO faces "serious security challenges" and must enhance cooperation. He urged that now is the time to stand for freedom and democracy.

Abandoning Ukraine, he argued, would be a strategic disaster, emboldening leaders in Iran, North Korea, and China. These countries support Russia's war and want NATO to fail. Stoltenberg stressed that the war's outcome will shape global security for decades.

The three-day summit, starting Tuesday, focused on reassuring Ukraine of NATO's support and offering hope to its war-weary citizens. Despite recognizing Russia's threat, NATO is not arming Ukraine. The summit also highlighted concerns over Donald Trump's potential impact on NATO if he wins the upcoming US elections.

These fears are intensified by scrutiny of Biden's health following a poor TV debate performance against Trump. Democratic lawmakers are discussing replacing Biden as their nominee, but he insists he won't step down voluntarily.