America News Agency

"Ukraine will receive hundreds of additional interceptors over the next year, which will help protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missiles and help Ukrainian troops withstand their attacks on the front line," Biden said.

Biden said in a strong tone: "Before this war, Putin thought NATO would disintegrate. Today, NATO is stronger than it has ever been in its history. Ukraine was a free country when this senseless war started. It is still a free country today, and the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free and independent country."

"Russia will not prevail," he said to thunderous applause. "Ukraine will win."
Speaking later in the evening, Zelensky urged US political leaders not to wait for the outcome of the November presidential election to help his country.

"Everyone is waiting for November. The Americans are waiting for November; in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific, the whole world is waiting for November; literally speaking, Putin is also waiting for November.

"It's time to come out of the shadows, make strong decisions... take action and not wait for November or any other month," Zelensky said.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the United States and its European allies would take action to bolster Ukraine's air defences at a time when the country is under constant heavy bombardment from Russia.

The leaders of the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Romania, announced that the United States, Germany, and Romania would send additional batteries of the Patriot air defence system. At the same time, Patriot parts donated by the Netherlands will enable one more battery to operate.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni approved donating the SAMP/T air defence system, the Italian-French-made equivalent of the Patriot.

"These five strategic air defence systems will help protect Ukrainian cities, civilians and soldiers, and we are coordinating closely with the Ukrainian government to ensure their rapid deployment. We are working on the announcement of additional strategic air defence systems for Ukraine later this year."

Diplomats said the final declaration would likely declare that Ukraine's path to NATO was "irreversible" and that control of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group, the main channel for military aid and training to Ukraine, would be transferred to NATO control.

These steps are seen as an attempt to "protect NATO policies against Trump" in case a new Republican administration cuts off aid to Ukraine or possibly makes it conditional on direct negotiations with Russia.