EU drafts Ukraine security agreement — report
The European Union in a future agreement on security guarantees plans to commit to long-term support for Ukraine’s security, including weapons supplies and military training, Reuters reported on May 13, citing a 10-page draft of the agreement.
The document states that in the event of "future aggression," the EU and Ukraine intend to consult within 24 hours regarding Kyiv's needs and "swiftly determine" next steps according to obligations.
The commitments would “help Ukraine defend itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and resist destabilization efforts,” EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said.
At the same time, the deal is far from explicit mutual defense pacts such as NATO’s Article 5. According to EU officials, the agreement is more of a promise to provide Ukraine with weapons and other assistance to strengthen its own security and prevent any future Russian invasion.
Read also: EU to finalize security agreement with Ukraine by July
The document lists nine forms of security and defense assistance that the EU will continue to provide, including supplying weapons, training troops, cooperation in the defense industry, and assistance with mine clearance.
The obligations will remain valid "as Ukraine pursues its European path" and will be reviewed in 10 years at the latest.
It does not specify the cost or amount of future assistance. The details of the proposed measures are to be agreed separately among the 27 EU member states, which also provide bilateral assistance to Ukraine.
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