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 (FT) wrote [1] on June 29. The measures will include financing further weapon supplies through the European Peace Facility, expansion of training programs for Ukrainian soldiers, and potentially EU training missions on the territory of Ukraine. These commitments are designed to reassure Kyiv of enduring Western support, the FT reported, as consensus on inviting Ukraine to NATO in the near future appears uncertain.

The France-devised proposal is also reportedly meant to show the EU's willingness to invest in Ukraine's security rather than being sidelined by NATO and the U.S. The initiative encountered opposition from several "neutral" EU members, such as Austria, Ireland, Cyprus, and Malta, the FT wrote. "For us as neutral states, it is clear that we cannot give such security guarantees.

Austria, Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus have made it clear that they have objections," Austrian Chancellor Karl Neghammer told[2] journalists on June 29 in Brussels. "We're supporting (Ukraine) financially and politically. We're happy to make those ongoing security commitments, but what we can't do as a country is engage in a commitment around mutual defense because that would breach our policy of neutrality," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar commented on the initiative.

The FT also added that the "slow" progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive[3] doused the hopes of some European leaders for a quick victory. At the same time, the recent Wagner rebellion[4] has raised questions about Russia's internal stability and about Kyiv's options for exploiting the situation, the news outlet commented. Ukraine's ultimate security goal is achieving full NATO membership once the war against Russia ends.

Kyiv hopes to receive a decisive signal[5] during the upcoming Vilnius NATO summit in July. According to media reports, there is so far no consensus[6] on Ukraine's NATO membership. Some allies voiced support[7] for a clear membership path, proposing[8] a simplified accession process for Ukraine.

Others remain hesitant about the membership question. France and Germany favor [9] "stronger, concrete, very clear security guarantees" over discussions on Ukraine's accession. Paris even indicated[10] it is ready to provide such guarantees itself, comparing it to an "Israeli-style" security agreement.

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Martin Fornusek

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press.

He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukrainer.

Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.

References

^ wrote (www.ft.com)
^ told (kyivindependent.com)
^ counteroffensive (kyivindependent.com)
^ Wagner rebellion (kyivindependent.com)
^ signal (kyivindependent.com)
^ consensus (kyivindependent.com)
^ support (kyivindependent.com)
^ proposing (kyivindependent.com)
^ favor (kyivindependent.com)
^ indicated (kyivindependent.com)
^ Korpela, Mjeshtri: Should NATO have its own digital currency?When NATO accepted the new strategic concept last June at the Madrid Summit, there was no mention of digital assets in the new concept paper.

At the same time, in light of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, all members agreed to boost their defense spending to counter the (kyivindependent.com)