The United States has signed a historic 10-year security agreement with Ukraine on the sidelines of the G7 summit, which is set to enhance the country's defences against Russia.
The background: The agreement comes at a time of heightened aggression from the Russian invaders, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleading with global leaders for their support.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that his nation's resources are running dangerously low and that the situation is becoming dire, especially in the eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk.
The US recently expanded its sanctions on Russia, with 300 individuals targeted both inside of Russia and beyond, as well as Chinese companies who have trading ties to Russia.
The agreement, signed during the two-day G7 summit in Italy, will mean the US offers military training, shares intelligence with Ukraine, and provides assistance in other ways.
In the case of a military attack against Ukraine, high-ranked officials from both sides will meet within 24 hours to discuss the best possible response.
The US is also pushing for a US$50 billion ($75 billion) loan towards Ukraine. Source: AFP / Mandel Ngan
What else to know: This agreement is believed to be a precursor for Ukraine's eventual entry into the NATO alliance. Zelenskyy has been pushing for his country to be granted membership into the alliance, which has been long sought by the Ukrainian president.
What happens now: The US is also pushing for a US$50 billion ($75 billion) loan towards Ukraine, that will be financed by liquidating frozen Russian assets. The matter is set to be discussed with other global leaders during the two-day summit.
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