President Joe Biden is in Europe this week for a series of pivotal meetings, including a NATO summit centered on long-term Ukraine policy in Vilnius, Lithuania. These meetings come at a critical time: They are meant to signal the US and NATO countries’ enduring support of Ukraine, and to rally a newly expanded NATO as it struggles to align on the best response to Russia’s ongoing military action.
Biden’s first stop was in the United Kingdom, where he met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — and King Charles for the first time since his coronation. That visit will be followed by the NATO Summit, and another meeting in Helsinki, Finland, with Nordic countries.
Members of the alliance have a lot to discuss: Questions about both Ukraine and Sweden’s ability to join NATO remain outstanding. And the US’s decision to send Ukraine cluster bombs, a weapon that’s been banned by a number of NATO members, is also set to be addressed. Notably, member countries are likely to use the summit to discuss what long-term funding and military aid for Ukraine could entail.
“The biggest critique of the US support for Ukraine is that it’s all very short-term,” says Max Bergmann, director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “What about in 2024, in 2025?”
Below is a look at what the US hopes to gain from these meetings, and where the country stands going into them.
Why Biden visited Rishi Sunak and King Charles in the UK
On Monday, Biden met with British Prime Minister Sunak, and described the relationship between the two countries as “rock solid.” This week’s meeting enables Biden to reaffirm ties with the UK and marks his sixth with Sunak overall, though his first at 10 Downing Street.
Reflecting on the enduring strength of our alliance, the leaders covered:
Progress to bolster the economic partnership
✅ The development of safe AI
Continuing long-term support for Ukraine
Ensuring Sweden’s accession to
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