United to win: Ukraine and Croatia sign agreement for long-term cooperation in Dubrovnik
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
In Dubrovnik, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, signed the Agreement on long-term cooperation and support between the two countries.
The Office of the President reported that.
Croatia has been supporting Ukraine since the start of Russian aggression in 2014. As of February 2022, the total aid given amounts to approximately 300 million euros, including 11 defense packages.
With this agreement, Croatia establishes its obligation to support Ukraine until victory in the war. The agreement concerns:
- cooperation between the defense industry,
- determination of prospects for joint defense production,
- and localization of projects in Ukraine.
The countries will also explore opportunities to strengthen cooperation in the fields of digital resilience and cyber security and share intelligence.
Photo: Office of the President
One part of the agreement deals with humanitarian demining support. Croatia has already committed over 10 million euros to this effort and will continue to offer equipment and expertise. This also encompasses mine action, veteran care, and the prosecution of serious crimes, as Croatia has direct experience with war.
Photo: Office of the President
The agreement also contains clauses relating to aid in the humanitarian, energy, legal, and scientific fields. In addition, Croatia will contribute to bringing the Russian Federation to justice, compensate for damages caused by aggression, and exert sanctions pressure.
Croatia supports Ukraine on its way to the EU and NATO and continues to make efforts to implement the Peace Formula.
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The purpose of the meeting of the Balkan countries is to demonstrate the solidarity and support of the countries of Southeast Europe to Ukraine, which has been resisting Russian aggression for more than two and a half years.
According to a source in the Croatian government, high-ranking officials from 12 Balkan countries, including three heads of state, five prime ministers, and four foreign ministers, are expected to attend the meeting together with Zelensky and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
- In particular, the following presidents will be present at the summit:
- Nataša Pirc Musar from Slovenia,
- Jakov Milatović from Montenegro,
- Vjosa Osmani from Kosovo.
- In addition, the following will join the meeting, including prime ministers:
- Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece,
- Dimitar Glavchev from Bulgaria,
- Edi Rama from Albania,
- Hristijan Mickoski from North Macedonia,
- Borjana Kristo from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Foreign ministers will represent Türkiye, Serbia, Romania, and Moldova. The summit will also be attended by:
- Vice President of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica;
- OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.
At the summit, the attendees are anticipated to agree on a joint declaration, the specific wording of which is currently under debate. However, it will align with the declarations made at the two previous summits.
The key points of the declaration include:
- condemnation of Russia's aggression;
- reaffirmation of support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, including the Crimean Peninsula;
- support for Zelensky's peace plan;
- urging for an investigation into war crimes in Ukraine;
- supporting Ukraine's membership aspirations in the EU and NATO;
- backing the country's energy security and post-war reconstruction.
