[karah rucker]
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS IN ITALY TODAY FOR THE G-7 SUMMIT, WHERE HE IS EXPECTED TO SIGN A 10-YEAR BILATERAL SECURITY PACT WITH UKRAINE.
THIS AGREEMENT is said to better STRENGTHEN THE LONG-TERM SECURITY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS, WITH COMMITMENTS TO CONTINUE TRAINING UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES, ENHANCE WEAPONS PRODUCTION COOPERATION, AND INCREASE INTELLIGENCE SHARING.
THE G-7 LEADERS ARE ALSO SET TO ENDORSE A PLAN TO PROVIDE UKRAINE WITH 50 BILLION DOLLARS IN LOANS… USING FROZEN RUSSIAN ASSETS TO FUND THE INITIATIVE.
WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE SULLIVAN MENTIONED THAT WHILE THE MAJOR ASPECTS OF THE PLAN HAVE BEEN AGREED UPON, SOME DETAILS WILL STILL NEED TO BE FINALIZED.
ADDITIONALLY, ON WEDNESDAY, THE U.S. EXPANDED ITS SANCTIONS AGAINST MOSCOW TO INCLUDE CHINESE COMPANIES THAT SUPPLY SEMICONDUCTORS.
THIS MOVE AIMS TO PRESSURE BEIJING OVER ITS SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA AND ADDRESS ISSUES OF INDUSTRIAL OVERCAPACITY.
THE SUMMIT IS ALSO ADDRESSING OTHER CRITICAL GLOBAL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST, MIGRATION, AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.