EU leaders pledge to contribute to Ukraine's long-term security guarantees.

At a June 29 summit in Brussels, European Union leaders declared they would contribute to long-term security commitments to Ukraine and swiftly consider approaches to such contribution. "These commitments will be taken in full respect of the security and defense policy of certain member states and taking into account the security and defense interests of all member states," reads a statement[1] adopted at the summit. The EU also reiterated its readiness to provide Ukraine with military aid "for as long as it takes," in particular, through the EU Military Assistance Mission and the European Peace Facility.

The bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell suggested that the European Peace Facility, an off-budget fund used to finance defense assistance to Ukraine and other EU partners, could serve as the basis for the said security commitments. According to Borrell, as cited [2]by Reuters, the EU could create a Ukrainian Defense Fund modeled after the Peace Facility. "The military support to Ukraine has to (be for the) long haul," Borrell told reporters in Brussels. "The training has to continue, the modernization of the army has to continue.

Ukraine needs our commitment to continue ensuring their security during the war and after the war." Ukraine has said that the best security guarantee for it would be to become a full-fledged NATO member after Russia's war ends. Kyiv hopes[3] to receive a decisive signal at the upcoming Vilnius NATO summit in July.

However, allies reportedly remain divided[4] on Ukraine's NATO accession. Some Eastern and Central European allies have supported proposing a simplified accession process for Ukraine, while others remain hesitant.

FT: EU prepares security commitments for Ukraine, faces opposition A France-led initiative in the EU is preparing long-term security commitments for Kyiv to help safeguard Ukraine from future Russian aggression, the Financial Times wrote on June 29.

[5] Dinara Khalilova

News editor

Dinara Khalilova is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent.

She has previously worked as a fixer and local producer for Sky News.

Dinara holds a BA in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Master's degree in media and communication from Bournemouth University in the UK.

References

  1. ^ statement (www.consilium.europa.eu)
  2. ^ cited (www.reuters.com)
  3. ^ hopes (kyivindependent.com)
  4. ^ remain divided (kyivindependent.com)
  5. ^ FT: EU prepares security commitments for Ukraine, faces oppositionA France-led initiative in the EU is preparing long-term security commitments for Kyiv to help safeguard Ukraine from future Russian aggression, the Financial Times wrote on June 29. (kyivindependent.com)

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