This month, 1,000 people chose to support the Kyiv Independent. Can we count on you, too?
Become a member
Skip to content
European Council President Charles Michel, Ukraine's President Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose during a signature ceremony of security agreement during the European Council Summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 27, 2024. (Photo by Olivier Hoslet/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security agreement with the European Union on June 27 during the EU leaders summit in Brussels.

The document was signed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the side of the EU.

According to the document, Ukraine commits to reforms on its path toward the EU, including in security, intelligence, and defense.

Ukraine must also strengthen transparency and accountability measures regarding assistance received, as well as contribute to the security of the EU.

The EU commits to continuing to support the provision of lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility and the Ukraine Assistance Fund.

The Ukraine Assistance Fund will have a budget of 5 billion euros ($5.3 billion) for 2024, according to the security agreement.

The EU and its member states have assisted 108 billion euros (nearly $116 billion) to Ukraine so far, including 39 billion euros (nearly $42 billion) of military support.

"Further comparable annual increases could be envisaged until 2027, based on Ukrainian needs and subject to political guidance by the Council (of the European Union)," the deal read.

The European Union will continue to provide training to the security and defense forces of Ukraine, in particular via the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM), and to expand the cooperation between defense industries of the EU and Ukraine.

"A stronger cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry will contribute to strengthening Ukraine's ability to defend itself and will benefit the European defense industry's capacity to support both member states' and Ukrainian needs," the statement said.

The EU and Ukraine will continue to cooperate on counteracting hybrid and cyber threats, foreign information manipulation, and interference, as well as protecting critical infrastructure and demining Ukrainian territories, including the Black Sea region.

The EU also commits to supporting Ukrainian nuclear safety, its energy sector, and its transformation in accordance with EU standards.

The EU will be assisting Ukraine with its path to the EU and related reforms, including Ukraine's economic reforms to integrate it into the EU single market.

Other chapters of the document are dedicated to the provision of protection for those Ukrainians who flee from the country due to Russia's full-scale invasion and further increase pressure on Russia in order to undermine its ability to wage its war of aggression, including imposing new sanctions.

"The European Union will continue to strive for the full and effective implementation of sanctions and for addressing and countering circumvention," the document read.

The European Union also undertakes to facilitate the investigation of Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

"The European Union will also continue to support all stages of the accountability cycle from investigation to proper prosecution and trial, eventually ensuring reparation and compensation to the victims."

Ukraine to start talks on security agreement with Ireland, Presidential Office says
Ukraine will soon start negotiations on security guarantees with Ireland, and is ready to sign the bilateral agreements with Estonia and Lithuania, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy head of the Presidential Office, said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on June 21.
Let’s see how far we can go?
We’ve been amazed by your support. We’ve reached our initial goal of finding 1,000 new paying members. We still have till the end of our birthday campaign — with more support, we can do even more good journalism. Over 13,000 people are standing behind us. Can we count on you, too?
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

1:50 PM  (Updated: )

Reuters reports Assad may have died in plane crash, later removes report.

Reuters on Dec. 8 reported, citing its Syrian sources that "there was a very high probability that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have been killed in a plane crash" as he was fleeing Damascus following its capture by rebels. Reuters later deleted the information from its reporting.
11:50 PM

US announces $988 million military aid package for Ukraine.

The latest aid package will be pulled through the remaining $2 billion in funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) — a Pentagon-led program for supplying arms to Ukraine through contracts with U.S. defense companies.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.