Berlin (dpa) – Germany has concluded a long-term security pact with Ukraine and pledged further weapons worth around 1.1 billion euros for the country’s defensive war against Russia. The security agreement is the result of a decision taken by NATO leaders at their summit meeting in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in July 2023. It was agreed there that the individual member states would conclude bilateral deals to ensure the long-term security of Ukraine. The United Kingdom was the first to do so in January. The other NATO states are now to gradually follow suit and make their own pledges. On Friday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron also signed a similar agreement with Zelenskiy in Paris.
After meeting Zelenskiy in Berlin on Friday, Scholz spoke of a “historic” step. He explained that the document represented Germany’s commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary. Zelenskiy said that Germany’s help was “vital for Ukraine, for our fighters on the front line”. “Our security agreement is truly an unprecedented document that reflects not only the level of bilateral relations, but also Germany’s fundamental role in maintaining normalcy in Europe and the world.”
