Ukraine and France sign security agreement: what it means

17 February 12:20

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French leader Emmanuel Macron have signed an agreement on security cooperation, the citing the Presidential Office.

Zelenskyy called the security agreement with France “ambitious and substantive” but noted that not all of its details can be discussed openly today.

“Not all of its details can be discussed openly today. But this is something that really confirms that this war that Putin has unleashed against Ukraine and the whole of Europe definitely has no future. There is a future for our peoples, for our common security, for the just peace that everyone in Europe deserves,” he said,

– he said.

According to Zelenskyy, the agreement between Ukraine and France provides for the allocation of €3 billion for defence this year, clear and principled support from Paris for Ukraine’s full membership in NATO, the imposition of sanctions against Russia for the war, and the responsibility of the Russian political leadership and all war criminals.

“In addition, we are bringing cooperation in the areas of information and cyber security, intelligence and counterintelligence, protection of critical infrastructure and countering organised crime to a new level,” the President said,

– the President of Ukraine said.

For his part, Macron noted that French assistance should strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities. According to him, the bilateral agreement on security cooperation will remain in force until Ukraine joins NATO.

“France plans to continue supporting Ukraine in terms of military equipment supplies, defence industry cooperation, training, intelligence, and assistance to the civilian sector. We are ready to strengthen our defence industrial and technological base for the benefit of European defence,” he said,

– he said.

In addition, Emmanuel Macron supported the idea of issuing Eurobonds to mobilise the defence industry.

What does the security agreement with France mean?

The document was signed as a follow-up to the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine adopted by the Group of Seven member states in Vilnius on 12 July 2023. The agreement will be valid for ten years.

In this document, France reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the strategic goal of a free, independent, democratic and sovereign Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders since 1991, able to defend itself now and to deter any possible aggression in the future.

Ukraine and France recognise the importance of the fundamental principles of a just peace as set out in the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

Thedocument aims to strengthen bilateral security cooperation between Ukraine and France.

The agreement sets out the main components of France’s long-term security commitments to Ukraine and prioritises security cooperation in the military, political, financial and humanitarian spheres.

According to the document, in 2024, the French Republic will allocate up to €3 billion in military assistance and will continue to support Ukraine for the ten years of its validity.

In particular, France will provide military and civilian assistance to enable Ukraine to defend its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity from aggression by the Russian Federation.

Within the framework of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defence, France will play a leading role in the artillery and air defence coalitions, as well as participate in the air and maritime security coalitions and other coalitions.

France will also contribute to the development of Ukraine’s defence industrial base, in particular by attracting French investment, localising production on Ukrainian territory and jointly producing priority weapons and ammunition.

In addition, the French Republic will help Ukraine join collective instruments to combat foreign interference and information manipulation.

Together with the members of the Group of Seven and other parties, France and Ukraine will work to establish a compensation mechanism for the damage caused by Russia’s aggression. France is determined to continue to apply strict sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy, as well as against those who support, benefit from or help to circumvent the war.

The parties also reaffirm that there must be no impunity for war crimes and other atrocities and that the Russian Federation must be held legally accountable for them. Therefore, Ukraine and France will continue to work in the Coalition to find options for establishing a tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

Thedocument provides for a mechanism of emergency consultations in case of possible future armed Russian aggression, which is applied at the request of any of the parties to the agreement within 24 hours to determine the measures necessary to counter or deter aggression.

In addition, the document enshrines France’s full support for Ukraine’s goal of joining the European Union and NATO. Furthermore, France confirms that Ukraine’s future accession to the Alliance will make a useful contribution to peace and stability in Europe. According to the agreement, the parties will coordinate and increase joint efforts to support Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the interoperability of Ukraine’s security and defence forces with the armies of NATO members.

Read the full text of the agreement here.

“Festival of security agreements”

So it is likely that, especially against the backdrop of disappointing news from the US Congress, we will soon be witnessing a real “Festival of Security Agreements”, when Western countries will guarantee our security under bilateral agreements such as the Budapest Memorandum.

The UK was the first to sign such an agreement with Ukraine. France is next in line. An agreement with Canada may be the next. In addition, Ukraine is negotiating similar agreements with the United States, Germany, Poland, and Italy.

In particular, the US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, said that two rounds of talks between Ukraine and the US have already taken place on the content and content of the relevant agreement with the US government.

Ukraine is desperately trying to gain the support of the world. In particular, the following 5 points of the Ukrainian Formula for Peace were presented at this year’s Davos Economic Forum.

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Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor