EU and Ukraine expected to sign security pact

The European Union is expected to sign a security agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, pledging to keep delivering weapons, military training and other aid to Kyiv for years to come, reported from Reuters.

The agreement will lay out the EU's commitment to help Ukraine in nine areas of security and defense policy - including arms deliveries, military training, defense industry cooperation and demining, according to a draft seen by Reuters.

Zelenskiy is expected to sign the pact at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels. His visit has not been officially announced but diplomats said he was expected to attend.

The pact is intended to complement similar 17 agreements sealed between Ukraine and its allies as it continues its defense against Russia's invasion.

In the event of "future aggression", the document says the EU and Ukraine intend to consult within 24 hours on Kyiv’s needs and "swiftly determine" the next steps in line with the commitments.

Countries including the United States, Britain, France, and Germany have sealed security pacts with Kyiv.

Officials say such agreements are not the same as the mutual defence pact between NATO nations, but are pledges to provide Ukraine with weapons and other aid to bolster its own security and deter any future invasion, according to Reuters.

www.anews.az