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Norway plans to conclude a security guarantee agreement with Ukraine in a few weeks. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stere announced this on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. Among the Scandinavian states, Denmark also expects to sign a similar document in the near future. Read more about the terms of the already adopted agreements between Kyiv and Paris, Berlin and London in the material of FREEDOM journalists.
France intends to help Ukraine develop its army so that it can fully restore the territorial integrity of the country. This is discussed in the Security Cooperation Agreement between Ukraine and France, which was signed by Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron.
The document consists of seven parts that regulate relations between Kyiv and Paris:
- in the defense industry;
- implementation of democratic reforms;
- sanctions policy towards Russia;
- creating a compensation mechanism to compensate for damage caused by Russian aggression.
The document also determines the actions of the parties to the agreement in the event of a second attack by the Russian Federation on Ukraine.
“I want to convey to the Ukrainian people our excitement and determination to continue supporting Ukraine for the long term. This support will be as strong as it was in the beginning, and it will only get stronger. It is in this spirit that we signed the security cooperation agreement. France wants to continue to support Ukraine in terms of the supply of military equipment, cooperation between our defense industries, in terms of training, intelligence, and assistance to the civilian sector. We are ready to strengthen our defense-industrial and technological base in favor of European defense,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
In 2024, France will provide up to 3 billion euros of additional assistance to Ukraine. In addition, Paris will promote the integration of the Ukrainian defense industry into the security system of the European Union and NATO.
“France is very interesting in the context that it is the largest arms manufacturer in the European Union. And this is a system-forming country for the construction of a European security architecture, namely, the creation of an army of the European Union, which has been repeatedly discussed at the highest level. Macron himself spoke about this directly,” said candidate of political sciences Alexey Buryachenko.
The agreement between Ukraine and France will be valid for 10 years from the date of signing or until Ukraine joins the North Atlantic Alliance – as well as the agreement with Germany.
Kyiv and Berlin also signed a document on security guarantees on February 16. In addition to the commitment to provide Ukraine with military assistance worth 7 billion 100 million euros in 2024, Germany promised to provide assistance in the reconstruction of the country, its European integration and holding the Russian Federation accountable.
“The agreement absolutely rationally spells out clauses on the responsibility of Russia and all Russian war crimes against Ukraine and against the Ukrainian people. The agreement also fundamentally defines the positions of sanctions against Russia and Russian assets frozen in various jurisdictions. Each such asset of a terrorist state must be confiscated and used for protection from aggression, for restoration after Russian terror,” emphasized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The first country to enter into an agreement on security guarantees with Ukraine was Great Britain. The signing of the document became a historical event and to some extent set the trend for other partner countries of Ukraine.
On January 12, 2024, Kyiv and London set out on paper what assistance Britain has provided and will provide to Ukraine in the future. Special attention was paid to wars that the Russian Federation could presumably start.
“If Russia attacks again, we will provide the support Ukraine needs, fast and reliable security support, modern weapons for defense on land, sea and in the sky, economic support, and we will also impose sanctions that will have a price.” For Russia. There is a clear and important commitment in this regard,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Denmark may become the next country to conclude a security guarantee agreement with Ukraine. At a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Munich Conference, the head of the Danish government, Matte Frederiksen, said that she expected Kyiv to approve the plan of agreements proposed by Copenhagen.
In total, Ukraine can sign similar bilateral documents with more than 30 allies: the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, the Baltic countries and the states of the Balkan Peninsula. All of them joined the G7 (Great Seven) declaration agreed upon in July 2023.
Let us remind you that on February 16, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an Agreement on Security Cooperation between Ukraine and France with the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.
