The European Union and two of its member states, Lithuania and Estonia, have signed security agreements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a summit in Brussels on Thursday. The agreement with the EU outlines the bloc’s commitment to assist Ukraine in nine areas of security and defense policy. These include arms deliveries, military training, defense industry cooperation, and demining, according to a draft seen by Reuters.
This pact, alongside documents signed with Lithuania and Estonia, is designed to complement other similar agreements established between Ukraine and its allies as the country continues its defense against Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the countries promising equipment, weapons, and ammunition, emphasizing the urgent need for their arrival on the battlefield.
Nations including the United States, Britain, France, and Germany have already sealed such pacts with Kyiv. Analysts suggest that Russian forces are aiming to capitalize on their advantage in troop numbers and weaponry before Ukraine receives the promised new Western military aid, some of which is gradually reaching the front lines.
The EU launched membership talks with Ukraine on Tuesday, marking a significant step a decade after Russian troops seized the Crimean Peninsula in an attempt to deter Ukraine from aligning more closely with the West. This event sparked a chain of actions that ultimately led to the current war between the two neighbors.
“We waited for this, a long period of time,” Zelenskyy stated, expressing appreciation for the EU’s approval. The leaders are expected to sign a document outlining security commitments to Ukraine, encapsulating the financial, military, and other forms of assistance the 27-nation bloc has provided since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Several countries have already established similar agreements with Ukraine, offering a long-term commitment to support Kyiv, even after the war with Russia ends. Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden signed one such pact earlier this month, spanning the next decade.
