Security agreements Ukraine has signed with partners will be valid until NATO accession – MP

Security agreements that Ukraine signs with G7 countries under the agreements of the NATO Summit in Vilnius will remain in effect until the country joins the alliance, according to Arsenii Pushkarenko, Deputy Chair of the Ukrainian Parliament Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation.

As of today, Ukraine has already signed security agreements with five G7 countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, and on the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion and the tenth anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian war, with Italy and Canada. Agreements are yet to be reached with Japan and the United States.

The MP said Ukraine, unfortunately, had the sad experience of the Budapest Memorandum when it gave up nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees. One of the guarantor countries became the aggressor, and others turned a blind eye, allowing the tragedy that is happening in Ukraine today.

"The current security agreements are filled with specific content. President Volodymyr Zelensky and the entire team are working on this. In particular, it concerns strengthening military assistance today," he said.

The parliamentarian also drew attention to the powerful informal summit French President Emmanuel Macron held in Paris to urge European states to mobilize after signing security agreements and take concrete steps.

"The Kingdom of Denmark was the first country outside the G7 to sign a security agreement with us. And I want to emphasize that this state announced the transfer of all its artillery to Ukraine. This year, Denmark is providing us with €1.8 billion in aid and €8.5 billion by 2028," the politician said. "This country's efforts in the reconstruction of Mykolaiv are also noteworthy. Significant work is being done in this direction, and a representative office of the Embassy of the Danish Kingdom has even been opened in the regional center.  We should personally thank the Danish people and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Arsenii Pushkarenko said the security documents stipulated specific comprehensive military assistance in the air, on land, and at sea in the event of a repeat armed aggression by Russia.

"Of course, there is also a political aspect. First of all, it is the support of Ukraine on the path to NATO membership, strengthening sanctions, and efforts to transfer seized sovereign assets of Russia for the reconstruction of our state. It is also important that the security agreements are long-term documents. In case of repeated aggression by Russia, the guarantor states will be there, and we will not have to be beggars for weapons around the world, which will be part of the written commitments of our partners. After all, as President Volodymyr Zelensky highlights, peace must be fair, and Victory must be with Ukraine," he said.

The MP pointed out that a vivid example of the substantive content of the signed agreements is the assistance from Canada and Italy. He noted that this year, Canada is providing up to 3 billion in macroeconomic and military aid, and Italy has provided eight aid packages over two years of full-scale invasion and has already announced the continuation of this support. Arsenii Pushkarenko also separately noted the personal role of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in persuading Hungary to finally agree to unblock €50 billion in support of the budget for four years under the Ukraine Facility program.