US ‘will not walk away’ on Ukraine, Biden promises

US President Joe Biden gave a heartfelt speech at Thursday’s (6 June) commemorations of the Normandy landings, comparing the “dark forces” of 80 years ago to those threatening Ukraine and the West today.

“Dark forces never fade,” Biden said: “Aggression and greed, desire to dominate and control, change borders by force; these are perennial, and the struggle between dictatorship and freedom is unending.”

In a speech to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, Biden paid homage to the fallen ones and celebrated “real alliances [that] make us stronger, a lesson I pray we Americans never forget,” in a thinly-veiled critique of US Republican candidate Donald Trump.

In February, Trump had warned he would not respect the US obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) to come to another member’s defence, should they have failed to meet their 2% of GDP target in military spending.

“Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago, and it is not the answer today,” said the US President.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a “stark example” that the fight between authoritarianism and democracy is not over, argued Biden.

“We will not walk away. If we do, Ukraine will be subjugated and it will not end there. Ukraine’s neighbours will be threatened, all of Europe will be threatened.”

“In their hour of trial, the allied forces of D-Day did their duty. Now the question for us is: in our hour of trial, will we do ours?” he asked.

Biden is due to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy later on Thursday, where all things military and financial support to Kiev are expected to be discussed.

The Elysée said on Wednesday (5 June) that new announcements on financial support to Ukraine would be made, within the terms of both countries’ bilateral security agreement.

It also confirmed that Franco-German armoured vehicle manufacturer KNDS is to open its first factory in Ukrainian.

Rumours are circulating that France is putting together a coalition of countries to send military instructors. The Elysée so far has not commented on this issue.

A press conference between Macron and Zelenskyy  is scheduled on Friday afternoon (7 June).

[Edited by Alexandra Brzozowski/Rajnish Singh]

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