EU prepares security agreement with Ukraine — Reuters
The European Union has already prepared an agreement on security guarantees with Ukraine, which may be signed in June or July this year
This was reported by espreso.tv
The draft agreement contains the EU's security commitments to Ukraine, which officials hope to complete in June or July.
The document says that in the event of future aggression, the EU and Ukraine intend to consult within 24 hours on Kyiv's needs and quickly determine the next steps in line with the commitments.
The 10-page draft, dated April 12 and seen by the publication, lists nine forms of security and defense assistance that the EU will continue to provide, including arms supplies, soldier training, defense industry cooperation, and demining assistance.
The draft EU document says that its commitments will remain in force "as Ukraine moves forward on its European path" and will be reviewed no later than 10 years from now.
It does not specify the value or quantity of future assistance. The details of the proposed measures are to be agreed separately among the 27 EU member states, which also provide their own bilateral assistance to Ukraine.
The document notes that the EU has agreed to provide €5 billion this year to a military assistance fund for Ukraine. But it does not promise the same for the following years.
"Further comparative annual increases can be foreseen until 2027", the document says.
According to EU diplomats, the draft security agreement with Ukraine is now the basis for negotiations.
Officials emphasize that such agreements are not the same as a mutual defense pact between NATO countries. Rather, they are a commitment to provide Ukraine with weapons and other assistance to strengthen its own security and deter any future invasion.
EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said the commitments "will help Ukraine defend itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and resist attempts at destabilization".
"The EU plan aims to both reassure Ukraine and send a strong message to Russia that we will continue to support — whatever it takes", Stano said.
