European Union Signs 10-Year Security Agreement with Kyiv at Brussels Meeting

At a June 27 summit of European Union leaders attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the European Union signed a security agreement with Kyiv.

Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned in a social media post that this agreement will be the first time that all 27 EU member states commit to providing Ukraine with comprehensive support, regardless of any internal institutional changes.

The pact obliges the 27-member bloc to continue supporting Ukraine with weapons and other forms of assistance for the next decade, but it is not a mutual defense pact like the ones involving NATO members.

Instead, it is a promise to uphold support for Kyiv to prevent future aggression by Russia, which invaded eastern Ukraine in February 2022.

The agreement solidifies the EU’s commitment to assisting Ukraine in various areas, such as weapons procurement, military training, defense industry cooperation, and demining efforts.

During the summit in Brussels, Ukraine also signed similar bilateral agreements with EU members Lithuania and Estonia.

Mr. Zelenskyy mentioned that Lithuania will offer security and political support to Ukraine yearly while the pact with Estonia includes cooperation in supplying arms, military equipment, training, and defense industry collaboration.

Both Lithuania and Estonia, as longstanding NATO members, are strong supporters of Ukraine in Europe.

There has been no official statement from Moscow regarding the three security pacts signed in Brussels.

Aspiring Ally

The recent agreements follow similar pacts between Ukraine and its allies, with more than a dozen signed since the beginning of 2024.

Back in January, the UK was the first to sign a bilateral security pact with Kyiv, formalizing ongoing UK support for Ukraine in areas like intelligence-sharing, cyber security, and military training.

Subsequently, 13 other European countries and Canada, including Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, have signed similar agreements with Ukraine.

Furthermore, during a G7 summit in Italy earlier this month, the United States and Japan signed security pacts with Ukraine.

Notably, the agreement with the United States ensures continued U.S. support for Ukraine, aiming to boost Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the long run.

President Joe Biden stated after signing the pact that the goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and deterrence capabilities.

Former President Trump has expressed a commitment to ending the conflict between Russia and Ukraine if reelected, calling for Europe to assume a greater financial burden of supporting Ukraine’s defense.

The latest agreement between the United States and Ukraine focuses on enhancing security and economic cooperation, seeking accountability for Russia’s actions, and setting the stage for a lasting peace.

Additionally, it allows for intelligence-sharing and joint military exercises between the two countries.

The agreement also serves as a stepping stone for Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO as a full-fledged member.

Mr. Zelenskyy’s foreign policy adviser, Ihor Zhovkva, emphasized the importance of NATO membership for Ukraine despite the signing of numerous agreements with allies.

He clarified that Ukraine still needs NATO membership and that the agreements are not a substitute for it.

No Substitute for NATO

Ukraine first applied for NATO membership in late 2022, six months after Russia’s initial invasion, but at a NATO summit in Lithuania last summer, Ukraine did not receive a formal invitation to join the alliance as anticipated.

NATO members promised at the time to extend an invite to Ukraine when the conditions are met and allies agree.

Instead, Kyiv received reassurance of alliance support through bilateral security guarantees with individual members, with several pacts signed subsequently.

For Ukraine to join NATO, it must have the approval of all 32 existing members, some of whom remain hesitant, fearing direct confrontation with Russia.

During the Brussels summit, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas urged EU leaders to affirm Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO through actions and words.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg expects Ukraine’s allies to send a clear message about Ukraine’s membership path at an upcoming alliance summit in Washington.

Reuters contributed to this report.