Ukraine and EU Forge Strategic Security Partnership: Nine Key Priorities Unveiled

5 December, 2023 Illustration photo of 155mm shells. Photo from open sources Representatives of the European Union and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense discussed long-term security commitments that the EU is ready to offer Ukraine.

The press service of the Ministry of Defense reported about this on December 5, 2023. The consultations revealed the EU's priorities for long-term security support for Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense said that representatives of the EU's Service for Foreign Affairs arrived in Kyiv to begin consultations on a security guarantee package for Ukraine on behalf of Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Charles Freese, Assistant Secretary-General for the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European External Action Service, presented the areas of long-term EU assistance.

Consultations between the EU and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, December 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense

Deputy Defense Minister Yuriy Dzhygyr headed the Ukrainian delegation at the talks. Future European assistance will include the supply of military hardware and equipment and, in particular, cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry.

The proposal includes nine priorities for future EU security commitments to Ukraine:

  • assistance with military hardware and equipment;
  • training of the Ukrainian military;
  • cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry;
  • countering cyber and hybrid threats;
  • assistance in demining;
  • implementation of reforms related to the EU accession process;
  • strengthening the ability to control weapons stockpiles;
  • support for nuclear security efforts;
  • intelligence sharing, including satellite imagery.

Charles Freese also emphasized that the EU "is trying to ensure that assistance to Ukraine is provided as quickly as possible." The day before, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that Ukraine had begun consultations with the European Union on collective security guarantees. The consultations are a follow-up to the Group of Seven's declaration of support for Ukraine, which was signed on July 12, 2023, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius.

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Photo from open sources

According to the EU Chief Diplomat, Josep Borrell, this amount has already reached EUR27 billion.

Ukrainian military during exercises in the Czech Republic, December 2022.

Photo credits: Czech Army

Also at the end of November, the EU Council agreed to allocate an additional EUR194 million to fund the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).

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