Europe Zelensky expected in Brussels to finalize agreement with EU
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is expected to attend political talks in Brussels in the middle of the week. As several EU officials told the German Press Agency, an agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and the EU is also to be signed. The text for this was approved by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the EU Member States on Monday evening and is to be formally adopted this Tuesday. It is possible that Zelenskyi will also attend the summit meeting of the heads of state and government of the 27 EU member states on Thursday as a temporary guest. There was initially no confirmation of this.
24.06.2024, 19:37
SDA
The agreement on security agreements is the result of an initiative by the members of the G7 group of Western economic powers. On the fringes of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last year, they agreed that individual states should conclude bilateral agreements with Ukraine in order to guarantee its security in the long term. The EU followed suit.
Countries such as the UK, Germany and France made a start in January and February. Most recently, the USA, among others, followed suit.
Among other things, the agreements guarantee Ukraine arms supplies, financial aid and political cooperation. They are intended to help bridge the gap until the country's intended accession to NATO. Germany has promised Ukraine, for example, to continue and expand its military support - including through further arms deliveries and the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
Selenskyj was most recently in Brussels at the end of May to sign a security agreement between his country and Belgium. Among other things, this agreement promises Ukraine the delivery of 30 F-16 fighter jets. The handover is set to begin this year. The delivery should be completed in 2028.
