VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed fresh pledges of weapons and ammunition and longer-term security commitments from the West on Wednesday even as he expressed disappointment over the lack of a clear path for his country to join NATO as the alliance wrapped up its annual summit.
A joint declaration issued by the G7 lays the groundwork for each nation to negotiate agreements to help Ukraine bolster its military over the long term. Zelensky described the initiative as a bridge toward eventual NATO membership and a deterrent against Russia.
“Our support will last long into the future,” Biden said. “We’re going to help Ukraine build a strong, capable defense.”
The Ukrainian and American presidents also met separately along with their advisers, and Biden pledged that “the United States is doing everything we can to get you what you need.” He acknowledged that Zelensky is sometimes “frustrated” by the pace of military assistance.
It was a marked shift in tone from Zelensky’s complaints a day earlier that it was “unprecedented and absurd” to avoid setting a timeline for Ukraine to join NATO.

‘We’re Not Amazon’

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace warned Wednesday of bubbling frustration over Zelensky’s demands, adding that “people want to see gratitude” for Western military support. Wallace also said he’s heard “grumbles” from some U.S. lawmakers that “we’re not Amazon.”
“I mean, that’s true,” Wallace said, according to multiple British media outlets. He recalled telling the Ukrainians the same thing when he visited the country last year and was presented with a list of weapon requests. “I’m not Amazon.”
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made a similar public remark in Lithuania, asserting that “the American people do deserve a degree of gratitude from the U.S. government for their willingness to step up and aid Ukraine and from the rest of the world as well.”
Ukrainian officials, including President Vladimir Zelensky, have been critical of the U.S. and its allies for not providing enough support or for providing it too slowly.