The agreements were signed on the occasion of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Prime Minister of Canada – Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of Italy – Giorgia Meloni have signed new security agreements with the President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy to strengthen Ukraine’s defences and support its long-term security needs.
The agreements were signed on the occasion of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Besides, the United Kingdom (U.K.), Germany, France and Denmark have also signed 10-year security deals with Ukraine until it can reach its aim of becoming a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Taking it to X, Zelenskyy tweeted,
Ukraine is definitely stronger now than it was two years ago. Today, we signed another security agreement, which strengthens the position of our people, particularly our soldiers. This is a strong and timely decision that will significantly strengthen our resilience.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2024
Prime… pic.twitter.com/pkIAk9Jj2Z
He further tweeted,
Our meetings with Italian Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni are always meaningful. Today we have an important result. We signed a bilateral security cooperation agreement between Ukraine and Italy.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2024
This document establishes a solid foundation for our countries' long-term security… pic.twitter.com/sKygvWDrZ6
Separately, the U.K. has also announced a new military aid package worth £ 245 million (U.S. $ 311 million) to boost the country’s artillery ammunition production. The announcement comes after the Royal Air Force completed its delivery of a previously announced consignment of anti-tank missiles.
The funding will be used to procure and revitalise supply chains to produce urgently needed artillery shells for Ukraine’s armed forces. This includes both direct procurement and support for existing Ukrainian production capabilities. The aim is to ensure a steady flow of ammunition to the frontlines, where artillery exchanges have become a defining feature of the conflict. Prior to this, the Prime Minister of the U.K. – Rishi Sunak had earlier announced a military aid of £ 2.5 billion when he visited Ukraine in January’24.
Separately, the President of the European Commission – Ursula von der Leyen and the Former Prime Minister of the U.K. – Boris Johnson also travelled to Ukraine to express solidarity with Ukraine.
Despite all the support from West, the war’s end remains elusive. Ukraine continues to face significant challenges, with heavy fighting and civilian casualties persisting. The international community is bracing for a potentially protracted conflict, and these security agreements serve as a crucial step in ensuring Ukraine’s resilience for the long haul.
