Security guarantees with US should be no worse than US memorandum with Israel - Head of Ukrainian OP
Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidential Office (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
A security agreement with the United States should work no worse than the American memorandum with Israel, according to Andrii Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian Office of the President.
Today, a meeting was held regarding the preparation of the security pact with the USA. Alongside Yermak, members of the delegation participating in the negotiations for drafting, as well as preparing bilateral and multilateral international agreements between Ukraine and other states, were present.
Yermak emphasized that the agreement with the USA should be exemplary, taking into account the real capabilities of the States and the best elements of previously signed security guarantees.
During the meeting, the following were discussed:
- Elements of the future document;
- Strengths of previous security guarantee agreements;
- Action plan after the approval by the US Congress of military assistance to Ukraine.
"The agreement between the USA and Ukraine should work no worse than the American memorandum with Israel, which confirmed the effectiveness of joint actions of allies during the recent repulsion of Iran's massive attack on Israel," Yermak added.
Israeli model
In this bilateral relations system, the States act as a security guarantor for Israel, despite the country not being a NATO member. The cooperation between the countries was formalized within the framework of the so-called Memorandum of Understanding since 1975. The agreement entails American military assistance as well as joint military exercises. Tel Aviv has also allowed the US to use its ports. Effectively, the US provides diplomatic and military cover for the country.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
In March 2023, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine plans to obtain strategic security guarantees from its allies, as it does not have the opportunity to become a NATO member during the war.
The initiative was agreed upon in July during the G7 summit. Since then, Ukraine has signed security guarantees with a number of countries, including Britain, Canada, and Germany.
