"The summit will focus on strengthening Ukraine's long-term success, which it has been building on since day one", Blinken emphasized.

He said the U.S. and other partners have made efforts in recent weeks to bolster support for Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are well positioned to strengthen the front line and halt the Russian advance.

Blinken recalled the recent bilateral security agreement signed by Ukraine and the U.S., which is the 17th since President Joe Biden announced the initiative during the G7 summit a year ago.

"Before the NATO summit, we expect about twenty, and possibly more, countries to sign bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. This is clear evidence that all of our partner nations support Ukraine over the long term", the U.S. State Department chief said.

He added that the United States is increasing sanctions pressure on Russia to force it to stop its aggression.

"If Putin thinks he can outlast Ukraine or any of us, he is wrong. Our assistance is showing practical results; the country can repel Russian aggression. But in the future, we want to make sure that Ukraine succeeds, that it stands strong economically, militarily and democratically. The NATO summit will contribute to the realization of these efforts", Blinken said.

• We recall that on June 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement.