"Deal of the century": grandiose rhetoric, but still missing the mark

This is a positive step and clearly shows the direction for forming friendships, and even better, becoming allies. Ukraine and the United Kingdom have strategic goals and opportunities to reach an allied level of cooperation.

Consider the significance of the article with the following content: "If one of the Participants is attacked in violation of the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law, both Participants will hold consultations within 24 hours to determine measures necessary to counter or deter aggression. Each Participant, acting in accordance with its legal requirements, will provide one another with prompt and sustainable security assistance, modern military equipment if necessary, as well as economic aid." It’s not Article 5 of the NATO Washington Treaty, but it’s still something…

And then you suddenly realize: this isn’t about a bilateral agreement, which, being a framework agreement, would undergo domestic procedures and be registered with the UN (in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter).

Instead, it’s found in a document with the exact same title and date. However, the document is not an agreement but a Declaration on the One Hundred Year Partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, functioning as a statement of political intent. Unfortunately, this declaration could have significantly reinforced the legally binding agreement with its provisions, but it didn’t.

And what does a centenary partnership have to do with something that can be unilaterally terminated in six months? Why the grandiose rhetoric?

A better option would have been not a centenary (why not 50 or 200 years?) but an indefinite allied defense and security agreement providing mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on either party.

Such an agreement and its implementation could genuinely help Ukraine now and, in time, the United Kingdom as well.

But we have what we have: a success for Ukrainian diplomacy in concluding cooperation and partnership agreements and, unfortunately, still just hopes for achieving Ukraine’s core foreign policy and security goals.

Source

About the author. Valeriy Chaly, Ukrainian diplomat, former Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.

The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.