On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, the presidents of Ukraine and the United States — Vladimir Zelensky and Joe Biden — signed a bilateral security agreement.
As reported by Reuters, the agreement provides for strengthening Ukraine's defenses against Russian invaders over the next 10 years.
In addition, the agreement should be a step towards Ukraine’s membership in NATO, the text of the agreement says.
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— The parties recognize this agreement as supporting a bridge to Ukraine's possible membership in the NATO alliance, — says the text.
However, the document stipulates that in the event of an armed attack or threat thereof against Ukraine, senior US and Ukrainian officials will meet within 24 hours to consult on response measures and determine what additional needs in defense are necessary for official Kyiv.
Under the agreement, the United States reaffirms its support for Ukraine's defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
— To ensure Ukraine's security, both sides recognize that Ukraine requires a significant Armed Forces, strong capabilities, and continued investment in a defense industrial base that meets North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standards — says the text.
Also, according to the document, the United States intends to provide long-term material, training, consulting, intelligence, security, defense-industrial, institutional and other support for the development of Ukrainian security and defense forces capable of defending a sovereign, independent, democratic Ukraine and deter future aggression.
Neither representatives of the United States nor Ukraine have yet officially announced the signing of the agreement.
US-Ukraine Security Agreement
The signing of the document took place during a meeting of the leaders of the two states.
Thus The United States became the 17th state with which a bilateral security agreement was concluded in pursuance of the provisions of the Vilnius Declaration G7.
The first country to sign such a bilateral agreement was Great Britain.
The day before, the press secretary of the head of state, Sergei Nikiforov, announced the signing of a security agreement between Ukraine and the United States at the NATO summit in Washington or the G7 group in Italy.
However, today Vladimir Zelensky stated that the document will be signed on June 13 during his meeting with Joe Biden.
The 15th country with which a security agreement was signed on May 31 was Norway, and Japan was the 16th.
Previously, Ukraine also signed security agreements with the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden and Iceland.
