G7 to announce long-term security commitments to Ukraine

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Ukraine’s leading Western allies will announce long-term security commitments to the country, aiming to turn it into a military fortress to ward off Russian aggression, President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged to help on its journey to becoming a NATO member. .

The commitments, in which the G7 countries will pledge long-term supplies of weapons, cash and other aid to Ukraine, come as Zelensky attends a summit of NATO leaders in Lithuania on Wednesday to drum up more support for his military as he moves to Russia. fighting off the invasion of

“We understand that the best guarantee for Ukraine is to stay in NATO. On the way to NATO, we would like security guarantees and get them permanently, so that they can make our relations with (Western) countries even stronger, ”Zelensky told reporters.

“Today’s Framework Declaration and Security Guarantees open the door for stronger bilateral commitments,” he said.

It marked a very different tone from the Ukrainian leader, who on Tuesday criticized the “absurd” decision of NATO allies not to give Ukraine an invitation or deadline to join the alliance.

Welcoming Zelensky to the summit, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Today we meet as equals, I look forward to the day when we meet as allies.

Standing alongside Zelensky at a press conference, Stoltenberg called for “credible arrangements for the security of Ukraine so that history does not repeat itself”.

“That’s why I welcome the fact that many allies will commit today to provide long-term security assistance to Ukraine,” he said.

Zelensky was attending the opening meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council on Wednesday with the leaders of all 31 NATO countries and Sweden, which is in the process of joining.

Western officials say security commitments to be announced later Wednesday will help Ukraine liberate territory held by Russian forces and modernize the country’s military to deter any future attacks. They will also help reassure Kiev that support will continue despite political shifts in Western capitals.

Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, said, “The United States, along with G7 leaders, will announce its intention to help Ukraine build a military that can defend itself and deter future attacks.” Could.”

The arrangement would provide Ukraine with more weapons and other aid in the long term. They aim to formalize ad hoc declarations from Western powers and allay concerns of Ukraine and more aggressive NATO members who want to see a concrete path for Kiev to join the alliance.

With the announcement, Sloat said, the US and its partners will begin the process of bilateral negotiations. Officials said a comprehensive announcement would ensure the process.

The talks will focus on ensuring Ukraine has a capable military as well as aid to pursue a reform agenda that the US and other powers say will eventually lead to Ukraine joining NATO. will be necessary.

Ever since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive last year, NATO has explicitly refrained from providing direct military aid to Ukraine to avoid direct conflict with Russia. Instead, it has left the decision up to the individual states.

A NATO communiqué released on Tuesday and first reported by the Financial Times promised to “extend an invitation” to Ukraine to join the alliance if “the allies agree and conditions are met”. Zelensky criticized the statement, which he said would encourage Russia to continue attacking Ukraine because it did not clarify Kiev’s future position.

Ukraine’s three priorities were “new aid package for our military on the battlefield, invitation to NATO.” , , when the security situation allows it” and guarantees security, Zelensky said.

Later, he said he had spoken with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and made an agreement for “additional Patriot systems and missiles for him”.

“We discussed at length long-term defense cooperation between Ukraine and Germany, including the functioning of centers for the repair of Western equipment,” he said.

Under Wednesday’s joint declaration, the G7 powers will provide more military assistance; increase intelligence sharing; help combat cyber and hybrid threats; expand training and military exercises; and to develop the industrial base of Ukraine, according to the British announcement of the programme.

The pledges are intended to demonstrate the West’s long-term commitment to Ukraine, while NATO members remain divided over the country’s membership path. But the security arrangement is unlikely to completely remove disagreements over Ukraine’s future among NATO’s 31 members. After Turkey dropped its opposition to Sweden’s bid this week, Stockholm is expected to join in soon.

The commitments would be costly and require consultation between the leaders and their respective parliaments. While Western officials said the aim of the talks was to stave off election cycles in member states, the plan would almost certainly be vulnerable to volatile politics.