EU Pledges to Consider Approaches to Security Guarantees for Ukraine

Friday, 30 June 2023

At a summit in Brussels on Thursday, EU leaders adopted a statement expressing their readiness to contribute to future security commitments to Ukraine and to consider approaches to such a contribution.

According to the text of the EU summit decision, which has been approved by all EU Member States, the European Union and the member states "stand ready to contribute, together with partners, to future security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine defend itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and resist destabilisation efforts."

"In this regard, they will swiftly consider the modalities of such contribution. These commitments will be taken in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States. The European Council will remain seized of the matter."

Separately, EU leaders have reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to provide sustained military support to Ukraine for as long as needed, in particular through the EU Military Assistance Mission and the European Peace Facility. 

They have also praised the progress in the delivery and joint procurement of one million artillery shells and missiles for Ukraine.

The decision specifically underlines the importance of continuing the efforts of EU Member States to assist in meeting Ukraine's urgent military and defence needs, without prejudice to the specific security and defence policies of individual Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has urged EU partners not to turn the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine into an uncontrolled process.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that EU countries that remain neutral cannot support the provision of security guarantees to Ukraine.

Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said that the best security guarantee for Ukraine is full NATO membership as soon as the war is over.

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