UPDATE 6-Biden, NATO set to announce Ukraine aid, stress membership pledge at summit

The document, seen by Reuters, also strengthened past NATO language on China, calling it a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war effort in Ukraine and saying Beijing continues to pose systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security. Biden said in a speech on Tuesday that NATO was "stronger than it's ever been" and that Ukraine can and will stop Russian President Vladimir Putin "with our full, collective support." On Wednesday, he said he was pleased all NATO members were pledging to expand their industrial bases and to develop plans for defense production at home. "We cannot allow the alliance to fall behind," Biden said.

U.S. President Joe Biden and leaders of other NATO member states are set to announce new aid and stress a membership pledge for Ukraine at a summit in Washington on Wednesday after Biden vowed to stand by Kyiv in its fight against Russia's invasion. As Biden welcomed leaders of the 32-nation NATO alliance, the United States and Germany announced that the U.S. would start deploying longer-range missiles in Germany in 2026 in a move that would have been banned under a U.S.-Russia arms control treaty that collapsed in 2019.

A U.S.-German statement said the "episodic deployments" were in preparation for longer-term stationing in Europe of capabilities that would include SM-6, Tomahawk and developmental hypersonic weapons with greater range. Aside from the modernization in recent years of U.S. nuclear bombs based in Europe, the weapons will be the most potent U.S. arms deployed on the continent since the 1980s, experts say.

A communique, expected to be released later on Wednesday, said the allies intend to provide Ukraine with at least 40 billion euros ($43.28 billion) in military aid within the next year, but stopped short of the multi-year commitment NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had sought. The document, seen by Reuters, also strengthened past NATO language on China, calling it a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war effort in Ukraine and saying Beijing continues to pose systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.

Biden said in a speech on Tuesday that NATO was "stronger than it's ever been" and that Ukraine can and will stop Russian President Vladimir Putin "with our full, collective support." On Wednesday, he said he was pleased all NATO members were pledging to expand their industrial bases and to develop plans for defense production at home.

"We cannot allow the alliance to fall behind," Biden said. "We can and will defend every inch of NATO territory and we'll do it together." Biden, 81, has faced questions about his fitness for office after fumbling a June 27 debate and hopes the NATO spotlight will help him stage a comeback of sorts, surrounded by allied leaders he has spent his three years in office cultivating.

However, November's U.S. presidential election could presage a sharp change in Washington's support for Ukraine and NATO. Republican candidate Donald Trump, 78, has questioned the amount of aid given to Ukraine to fight Russia's invasion and U.S. support for allies generally. TRUMP WEIGHS IN

On Wednesday, Trump told Fox News Radio he would not pull the U.S. out of NATO but reiterated that he wanted members to pay more. "I just want them to pay their bills. We're protecting Europe. They take advantage of us very badly," he said. Trump had pressed congressional Republicans to stall military aid for Ukraine before later reversing course.

Uncertainty about U.S. leadership has unsettled NATO allies. "If there’s one thing that I’m concerned about with the United States, it’s the polarization of the political climate - it is, I have to admit, very toxic," Alexander Stubb, president of NATO member Finland, told reporters.

While Biden has been seeking to rally allies and domestic support, several high-ranking European officials met a top foreign policy adviser to Trump during the summit. NEW AID FOR UKRAINE

Stoltenberg told reporters he expected allies will agree upon a "substantial" package for Kyiv that would involve a new NATO command for Ukraine to provide security assistance and training. There would be new announcements of immediate military support, he said, including air defense and moves to ensure full interoperability between Ukrainian forces and NATO forces.

NATO members have announced the delivery of five additional Patriot and other strategic air defense systems to help Ukraine. The communique says the alliance will continue to support Ukraine "on its irreversible path to full Euro-atlantic integration, including NATO membership". That language had been a major point of contention among the allies.

It called on China to cease material and political support for Russia's war effort. It expressed concern about China's space capabilities, referenced rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, and urged Beijing to engage in strategic risk reduction talks. ($1 = 0.9243 euros)