Ukraine and UK sign agreement on security guarantees

This was reported by Espreso correspondent Dmytro Didora.

The document is entitled "Agreement on Security Co-operation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland and Ukraine".

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that this agreement was the first in the field of security agreements to implement the deals agreed during the NATO Summit in Vilnius between Ukraine, the Group of Seven members and the states that joined them.

Agreement on Security Co-operation provides for: 

• Annual support. Already this year, the United Kingdom will provide £2.5 billion, which is the largest aid package from the UK since the beginning of the war. 
• Support for the defence sector.
• The necessary assistance will be delivered much faster

The agreement is a long-term one. According to Zelenskyy, the agreement has a ten-year term with the possibility of extension. However, if Ukraine joins NATO before the end of the term, the security commitments will be completed and incorporated into the system of the entire alliance.

Rishi Sunak stressed that an investment in Ukraine is an investment in common security. 

"If Putin defeats Ukraine, he will not stop there," Sunak said. - "The UK has stood with Ukraine since the beginning of this war, and we want our commitment to be demonstrated not in words but in actions.

According to the British Prime Minister, the £2.5 billion aid package will include additional air defence equipment, additional anti-tank weapons, additional long-range missiles, and thousands of shells. Training will also be provided for thousands more Ukrainian troops.

He added that £200 million will be allocated for the production of new drones. In total, the UK has provided over £12 billion to Ukraine since the start of the war.

"I am very proud that today President Zelenskyy and I have signed a new agreement that will form the core of our relationship that will last for hundreds of years," the British prime minister said.

According to Sunak, the signed agreement ensures the long-term nature of British support.

"It is very important for Russia to understand that we are not backing down. We will be with Ukraine for a long time. In case of a new Russian attack in the future, we will provide the assistance Ukraine needs. It will be a quick help with weapons - land and sea. We will also make Russia pay the economic price of such aggression," he said.