IRIA News

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Berlin and Paris to sign security agreements with European partners. Zelenskyy is seeking military aid from Germany and France as concerns over U.S. funding grow.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a long-term security deal with Germany on February 16, 2024. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed the deal as a “historic step” amid Kyiv’s raging battles against Russia. Zelenskyy would also sign a similar deal in France, as he sought to shore up help for his forces.

The long-term security cooperation and support agreement between Germany and Ukraine is valid for 10 years and defines priorities in international cooperation in the military, political, financial, and humanitarian spheres. The document also pledges more than $7.5 billion in German defense support for Ukraine this year, Zelenskyy’s office said.

This makes Germany the second country to finalize a bilateral security deal based on the pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) countries last July. The UK signed a similar treaty with Ukraine in January.

Today, @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz and I signed an Agreement on security cooperation and long-term support between Ukraine and Germany.

This is an unprecedented document that guarantees German support for Ukraine in the amount of €7 billion for this year. It envisages weapons… pic.twitter.com/qAaHrxdr06

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 16, 2024

The treaty stipulates Germany’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and promises to help the country defend itself against aggression.

“Germany will continue to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian war of aggression. Slava Ukraini,” Scholz said on social media upon signing the agreement.

During a press briefing with Zelenskyy, Scholz also announced that Germany is preparing a $1.2 billion aid package for Ukraine that includes 36 howitzers, 120,000 shells, two Skynex air defense systems, and missiles for IRIS-T air defense systems.

“I am grateful to Germany and all Germans for their solidarity with our country and people, as well as all the support and assistance,” Zelenskyy said, calling the agreement a “strong document.”
Zelenskyy’s journey across Paris and Berlin is taking place during a crucial period, with Ukraine grappling with increasing pressure on its eastern front due to shortages of ammunition and renewed attacks from Russia.

This week, fierce fighting raged around Avdiivka on the eastern frontline, which has become a main Russian target ahead of the February 24 invasion anniversary.

Munich Security Conference 2024

More than 50 world leaders, including U.S. Vice President Kamal Harris, and hundreds of defense representatives from around the world are currently present in Germany, to attend the Munich Security Conference.

The Ukrainian President also delivered a speech at the conference asking the world to ramp up support for Ukraine. The conference provided a chance for Zelenskyy to meet his crucial Western partners on the sidelines and push them for aid and cooperation.

Besides meeting Harris on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich conference, talks are also planned with the leaders of the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Ukraine was once the main conflict on the minds of world leaders but Israel’s war on Hamas and the ensuing escalating crisis in the Middle East now also require urgent attention. Both conflicts dominate the Munich conference, on and off stage.

Ukraine-France security agreement

During his visit to Paris, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron and signed the Agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and France to further the G7 Vilnius Declaration adopted in July 2023.

Zelenskyy said, “I would like to thank you, Emmanuel, for the fact that our agreements always work and always inspire. Ukraine and France know how to add strength together to our defense, to our nations, and to our entire Europe.”

In Paris, President @EmmanuelMacron and I signed an agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and France.

This document confirms France’s unwavering support. France will provide €3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine in 2024, and will continue to support our… pic.twitter.com/ICUWr1EAxQ

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 16, 2024

The Ukrainian president said during a press briefing, “We have prepared and signed an ambitious security agreement. Not all of its details can be discussed openly today. But this is something that truly confirms that this war that Putin has unleashed against Ukraine and the whole of Europe has no future. But there is a future for our nations, for our common security, for a just peace that everyone in Europe deserves.”

According to Zelenskyy, the bilateral agreement between France and Ukraine provides for the allocation of €3 billion for defense in 2024 as well as France’s support for Ukraine’s full membership in the NATO alliance.

France would also support Ukraine in areas of information and cybersecurity, intelligence and counterintelligence, critical infrastructure protection, and countering organized crime to a new level. “Each of these elements is about the resilience of our states in protecting human lives,” Zelenskyy highlighted.

During the meeting, the leaders of France and Ukraine also discussed the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine as well as the needs of the Ukrainian army, prospects and opportunities of cooperation in the field of defense production, including joint production of weapons, as well as the transfer of certain innovative technologies from France to Ukraine.