‘Clear signal to Ukraine and Russia’: EU drafts ‘security commitment’ for Kiev – FT

While Western leaders seek compromises for long-term commitments to Kiev amid growing instability in Moscow, the European Union is preparing a proposal for “future security commitments” to Ukraine. This was reported by the FT publication.

A summit of EU leaders will be held on Thursday 29 June, prompting bloc leaders to discuss the level of support needed for Ukraine against the backdrop of recent events, including a military insurgency in the Russian Federation and a Ukrainian counteroffensive. .

France, Germany, the UK and the US will lead efforts to negotiate bilateral security agreements to provide Ukraine with long-term funding, military support, military training and intelligence to help Kiev fend off a Russian invasion.

According to the publication, these commitments do not correspond to the level of mutual defense agreements undertaken in the event of Ukraine’s NATO membership, but will help reassure Kiev that the West is ready to provide it with greater support.

One of the diplomats involved in the discussion told the broadcast that France has developed a statement that aims to give Ukraine and Russia a “very clear political signal” and demonstrates EU countries’ interest in expanding the security system in Russia’s interests. Ukraine

However, the proposal met resistance from neutral EU countries Austria, Ireland and Malta, who demanded clarification of what such “obligations” might mean.

Journalists reviewed the draft and noted that the EU and member states “together with their partners are ready to contribute to Ukraine’s future security commitments that will help Kiev protect itself in the long term, deter aggressive actions and resist attempts at destabilization”. “

The document states that the study includes an evaluation of mechanisms for such a contribution, taking into account “the security and defense policies of certain member states”. The text also allows you to make changes before accepting it.

“We are already doing a lot on security commitments,” the EU diplomat said, referring to the EU’s financial support for Kiev. said.

According to Estonian Prime Minister Kaija Kallas, each of the allies decides on their own contribution to this process.

“But the important thing is that we say this is our common path. We’re working (on expressions – ed.) We don’t want these to be empty words,” Kallas said.

Recall, it was recently learned that the European Union will provide 45% of all financing needs of Ukraine by 2027. This was expressed by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

In the European Union report, it was also noted that Ukraine fulfilled only two of the seven conditions for the start of membership negotiations, but the allies will insist on the process achieved despite the war with the Russian Federation.