On Thursday 27 June in Brussels, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed the joint security commitments of the European Union and Ukraine.
“Security agreements with Ukraine are important because they send the message that we intend to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. We want to be operational, we want to be concrete”, stressed Mr Michel. “We pledge to keep delivering the weapons, military training and the aid Ukraine needs to defend itself against this war of aggression and deter any future attack. This highlights: we are in for the long haul”, added Mrs von der Leyen.
According to the signed, non-binding document, “the European Union and its Member States will contribute, for the long term and together with partners, to security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine to defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future”.
The two parties also undertake, “in the event of future aggression”, at the request of either party, to consult each other “within 24 hours” on Ukraine’s needs in exercising its right of self-defence. The EU and its Member States will also discuss additional measures to deter any military escalation against Ukraine.
The document points out that “the European Union and its Member States are crucial contributors to Ukraine’s immediate and long-term security and resilience through military and civilian assistance, humanitarian, financial, trade and economic support, hosting of displaced people, support to reforms, recovery and reconstruction, as well as restrictive measures, support to accountability mechanisms, diplomatic support and global outreach”. These forms of support are the elements included in the security commitments.
The EU is committed to a “predictable, efficient, sustainable and long-term provision of military equipment”. This support is provided in particular through the ‘European Peace Facility’, including the ‘Ukraine Assistance Fund’. Seven decisions on this Facility, representing €6.6 billion in reimbursements for the Member States, are still blocked by Hungary, despite the EU’s proposal to allow Budapest not to participate in exchange for not blocking the decisions.
In conclusions adopted later in the evening, EU leaders called on the Council to quickly finalize the work.
Addressing his counterparts, Mr Zelensky once again stressed the importance of providing his country with military assistance. “Military support, artillery, shells, and fulfilment of every promise is important not only in terms of protecting lives, but also to destroy the Russian illusion that they will achieve something by war”, he stressed, adding that every aid package announced had to be on the battlefield “as soon as possible”. The President also pointed out that long-range weapons - which the country also needs - had made it possible to restore security in Kharkiv, thanks to the destruction of Russian missile launchers stationed close to the border.
But that is not enough. Despite the military support already provided - €39 billion according to the document - “in a situation like this, it's never enough”, acknowledged Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. “I understand that there is a desire to do more and more. We're seeing a lot of effort, and we’ll continue to do better and faster”, he promised.
The EU and Ukraine also intend to encourage greater cooperation between their defence industries and mutually benefit from initiatives “allowing Ukraine to participate in joint procurement and the Ukrainian defence industry to be supported in its industrial ramp-up and strengthening ties with the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base”. They also recognise the need to increase and secure the timely availability of defence products by developing a more responsive and resilient European and Ukrainian Defence Technological and Industrial Base that is able to ensure security of supply.
The EU also promises to continue to provide training to the Ukrainian armed forces and other security and defence forces under their operational control, notably through the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM). “The European Union’s training efforts should also contribute to the long-term reform of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Ukraine’s security and defence sector”, adds the document.
Among the wider security commitments, the Europeans promise to support Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership and Kyiv’s reforms. The EU is also committed to predictable financial support and support for the reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine, and is prepared to maintain and impose further measures against Russia.
On the same day, Mr Zelensky signed a bilateral security cooperation agreement with the Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nausėda, and then with the Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas. With these new agreements, 13 EU countries have signed security commitments or similar documents with Ukraine (Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden).
See the document: https://aeur.eu/f/cur and the European council conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/cux (Camille-Cerise Gessant, with the editorial staff)