Staff Reports
In a groundbreaking move on Friday, Ukraine has sealed the deal with both France and Germany to strengthen their defense ties, leaving Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, calling this a momentous occasion. The Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelensky, ventured to Berlin to finalize the ten-year agreement with Germany, promising increased funds, military support, and more sanctions against Russia.
According to the German government, they stand firm in supporting Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, underscoring their commitment to Ukraine’s internationally recognized boundaries since 1991. Chancellor Scholz didn’t hold back, boldly declaring that they won’t back down in their backing of Ukraine against the Russian aggression, labeling the deal as a significant step forward.
Zelensky Headlines at Davos, Campaigning to Keep Ukraine War on Front Pageshttps://t.co/THFmr8gS9M
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 16, 2024
The agreements with Germany and the forthcoming one with France are seen as a boon for Ukraine, with the German newspaper Welt likening the pacts to a “NATO light,” suggesting that European countries are now bound by treaty to come to Ukraine’s defense if it is ever attacked. This has been viewed as a consolation prize for Ukraine after being denied entry into the Western defense alliance, offering the promise of ongoing military support, soldier training, and assistance in bolstering its defense industry.
Although French President Macron’s scheduled visit to Kyiv for signing the deal was canceled, Zelensky made his way to Paris as part of his diplomatic tour across European states. The French government spokesman conveyed that the agreement’s signing, nearly coinciding with the two-month mark since the conflict began, serves as a powerful symbol of their unwavering support for Ukraine.
These latest defense agreements with France and Germany come on the heels of a similar security pact inked by Ukraine and the United Kingdom. This previous accord was hailed as unprecedented by Zelensky and saw the UK affirming its support for Ukraine’s accession into the European Union and NATO, vowing to assist Ukraine in restoring its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, should Russia launch any future invasion.
Zelensky is taking a tailored approach to forge these deals with individual European nations, acknowledging that each country has its own preferences and reservations. This targeted strategy is deemed necessary because a collective declaration among the European nations would likely be impossible due to their differing stances.
