Ukraine held regular consultations with Germany on security guarantees: how the G7 declaration works

Ukraine and Germany held a round of consultations on concluding a bilateral agreement on security guarantees. The parties discussed the legal framework of the future bilateral agreement and agreed on a plan for further communication.

Ukraine and the UK may also sign a ten-year security pact in the coming weeks. Thirty-one countries have already joined the G7 joint declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine.

In this article, we will tell you what security guarantees our partners offer Ukraine today.

Germany

On December 21, the Ukrainian delegation held another round of consultations with Germany on concluding a bilateral agreement on security guarantees.

The Ukrainian negotiation team was led by the deputy head of the Chancellery of the President, Ihor Zhovkva. It also included the deputy head of the Chancellery of the President, Roman Mashovets, and representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The parties exchanged views on the main elements of the security guarantee for Ukraine and raised the issue of the legal limits of the future bilateral agreement.

For his part, Matthias Lüttenberg, a representative of the German Foreign Ministry, drew attention to Ukraine's success in implementing reforms even in the face of a full-scale war.

The parties also exchanged views on the main elements of the security guarantee for Ukraine, raised the issue of the legal framework of the future bilateral agreement, and agreed on a plan for further communication.

"Germany is showing a leading role in financial and military support for Ukraine, especially in terms of continuing large-scale assistance in 2024. Your country, which is a member of the EU and NATO, is an indispensable guarantor of Ukraine's security and its future in these organizations"
emphasized the deputy head of the Chancellery of the President.

On November 17, the first round of negotiations with Germany on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine took place. This country became the sixth member of the Group of Seven with which Ukraine began bilateral talks. The security guarantees are part of ongoing negotiations between NATO leaders to ensure Ukraine does not suffer from new attacks from Russia after the end of a full-scale war.

Guarantees from G7

On July 12, 2023, the member states of the Group of Seven (G7) adopted a declaration containing security guarantees for Ukraine, the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. The text was published on the UK Government website.

“We, the leaders of the Group of Seven, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the strategic goal of a free, independent, democratic, and sovereign Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, capable of defending itself and deterring future aggression. We confirm that the security of Ukraine is an integral part of the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. We believe that Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine constitutes a threat to international peace and security, a flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter, and is incompatible with our security interests. We will support Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression for as long as necessary," we read in the document.

G7 countries will work with Ukraine on "specific, bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements." These will aim to provide a resilient force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future through continued security assistance and modern military equipment on land, in the air, and at sea; strengthening Ukraine's economic stability and resilience, including through reconstruction and recovery efforts; and providing technical and financial support to meet Ukraine's immediate needs as a result of the war with Russia, and enabling Ukraine to continue implementing an effective program of reforms.

In the event of a future armed attack by a Russian occupier, the G7 countries intend to hold immediate consultations with Ukraine to determine appropriate next steps.

“We intend, in accordance with our relevant legal and constitutional requirements, to provide Ukraine with prompt and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment on land, sea, and air, economic assistance, impose economic and other costs on Russia, and consult with Ukraine on its needs regarding the exercise of the right to self-defense. To this end, we will work with Ukraine on an expanded package of security commitments and arrangements in the event of future aggression to enable Ukraine to defend its territory and sovereignty"
the declaration says.

For its part, Ukraine undertakes to "make a positive contribution to the organization of partners' security and to strengthen transparency and accountability measures for assistance provided by partners." Kiev is to continue implementing reforms, including in law enforcement, judiciary, the fight against corruption, corporate governance, the economy, the security sector, and public administration.

“Other nations wishing to contribute to efforts to ensure a free, strong, independent, and sovereign Ukraine may join this joint declaration at any time,” the document reads.

The declaration was adopted on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Great Britain

On December 20, Ukrainian representatives held a second round of consultations with Great Britain on concluding a bilateral agreement on security guarantees.

"The second round of consultations showed the progress we have made since the start of bilateral security talks. "The UK plays an important role in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, its economic and financial stability, as well as in gradually bringing our country closer to NATO membership, which will be a reliable guarantee"
Ihor Zhovkva said.

The Ukrainian delegation was headed by the deputy head of the KP Ihor Zhovkva, and also included the deputy head of the KP Roman Mashovets, deputy minister of foreign affairs Mykola Tochytskyy, and representatives of the Ministry of Defense.

During the talks, the parties analyzed the main elements of the security guarantee and agreed on a further work plan. Zhovkva also discussed with the head of the British delegation, Nicholas Katsaras, the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries, the implementation of the peace formula, and the schedule for further contacts at the level of state leaders.

Negotiations with Great Britain began on August 11.

United States and Canada

Negotiations with the United States of America on a bilateral agreement to provide our country with security guarantees took place on August 3.

The Ukrainian delegation was led by the head of the Chancellery of the President, Andrii Yermak.

"It is symbolic that the United States of America, our largest strategic partner, was the first country with which Ukraine started this process"
head of the Chancellery of the President, Andrii Yermak said.

Yermak added that in this way Ukraine is creating a "successful model for other partners". Security guarantees will strengthen Ukraine's progress towards future membership in the Euro-Atlantic community, including the EU and NATO, which is the ultimate goal and a reliable security guarantee.

On August 25, Ukraine started negotiations with Canada on a bilateral security guarantees agreement.