The leaders of the European Union signed this Thursday with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the security agreement with which they commit to help Kiev militarily against the Russian invasion, marking an annual path of 5 billion a year in military aid until 2027.
Within the framework of the leaders’ summit on June 27, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyenhas signed a security agreement with kyiv that sets out in writing the will to support Ukraine in the long term, following the example of the G-7 and from European countries like Spain.
Regarding military support, the EU emphasizes that the assistance fund for Ukraine, the specific section within the framework of the European Peace Mechanism, will continue to be the basis for the supply of military material to kyiv.
This mechanism has a budget of 5 billion euros for this year and will set the path for military spending for the coming years. “New comparable annual increases could be foreseen until 2027,” says the document to which Europa Press has had access.
“This support will continue to be determined by the evolving needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and will complement the bilateral efforts of EU Member States,” states the security agreement sealed with Ukraine.
In addition, The European bloc is committed to strengthening cooperation in the defence industry“The EU and Ukraine will mutually benefit from initiatives that enable Ukraine to participate in joint procurement and the Ukrainian defence industry to receive support in its industrial take-off,” he stressed, stressing that the link between the European and Ukrainian industrial bases will be strengthened.
In addition to measures to support Ukraine in its integration into the single market or to support its accession to the EU, the bilateral agreement states that Brussels and kyiv “are willing to hold extraordinary consultations to be established by mutual agreement.”
Specifically, in response to the Russian threat, the agreement stipulates that in the event of future aggression at the request of either party, consultations will be held within 24 hours on Ukraine’s needs in exercising its right to self-defence.
“The EU and Ukraine will promptly determine appropriate next steps, in accordance with these commitments, without prejudice to the specific nature of the security and defence policy of certain Member States,” the agreement states, stressing that they would be discussed “additional measures to deter any military escalation against Ukraine”.
In statements prior to the signing, Michel valued that the security agreements with Ukraine are “important” because “they convey the message that we intend to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.”. “We want to be operational; “We want to be concrete,” she indicated.
Taking advantage of the occasion in Brussels, Zelensky signed bilateral security agreements with Estonia and Lithuania, while he has been seen talking animatedly with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, who has been blocking various measures to support kyiv and who maintains his veto to almost 6 billion from the European Peace Mechanism.
(With information from Europa Press)
