Poland, Ukraine sign security agreement

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed a security agreement on July 8 in Warsaw.

Poland is the latest country to sign such an agreement with Ukraine based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) in July 2023.

Others states, including the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, have signed similar bilateral treaties to help Kyiv repel Russia's aggression.

The agreement highlights that Poland was the first country to recognize Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union on Dec. 2, 1991.

Ukraine and Poland agreed to further develop political, military, and economic cooperation, and "cooperate closely in the reconstruction of Ukraine as a sovereign and democratic state."

During the joint press conference with Tusk, Zelensky thanked Poland for the "special agreements" in the document.

The president added that the security agreement includes a provision to develop "a mechanism" for intercepting Russian missiles and drones in Ukraine's airspace aimed at Poland.

Later in the day, the Presidential Office published on its website the full text of the security agreement between Ukraine and Poland.

The document consists of 10 chapters covering political, military, economic, and other support, as well as bilateral cooperation in the event of a future threat of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Poland committed to providing several packages of military assistance by the end of 2024 and to continue to assist Ukraine over the next 10 years of the agreement. Warsaw will also consider supplying Ukraine with at least an additional MiG-29 squadron, according to the document.

The security agreement includes forming and training a Ukrainian Legion in Poland as well.

"The Ukrainian Legion will train in Poland and be equipped with the help of our partners. Every Ukrainian citizen who decides to join the Legion will be able to sign a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Zelensky said.

"Our teams are currently working out all the details of this proposal," he added.

Zelensky arrived in Warsaw earlier on July 8, a day before the upcoming NATO summit is scheduled to begin in Washington, D.C.

"Perseverance and courage. These words best describe the attitude of Zelensky in the fight for a safe Ukraine and a safe Europe. You can always count on us in this fight," Tusk posted on X shortly after Zelensky arrived in Poland.

Explosions rock Kyiv, other cities in Russian Monday morning massive attack

Russia launched an aerial missile attack against Ukraine on the morning of July 8. Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Sloviansk, Pokrovsk, and Kramatorsk came under attack.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek