Ukraine to sign security guarantee agreement with Norway at earliest opportunity
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide (photo: president.gov.ua)
Ukraine and Norway have concluded bilateral negotiations on the signing of a security guarantees agreement between the two countries. The leadership of the states intends to sign the respective document at the nearest opportunity, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
The statement regarding the readiness to sign security guarantees came following the results of a meeting in Kyiv on April 15 between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, who is visiting Ukraine.
"The interlocutors noted the successful finalization of bilateral negotiations on the conclusion of an agreement on security commitments. They agreed that the leaders of the two states would sign this strategic document at the earliest opportunity," the statement from the Office of the President of Ukraine said.
Additionally, the release indicates that Zelenskyy informed the Norwegian minister about the current security situation in Ukraine, particularly about the intensified mass rocket attacks on critical infrastructure by Russian occupiers.
"The President thanked Norway for its significant contribution to the defense capabilities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces," the Office stated.
It is noted that the parties separately discussed the situation in the field of Ukrainian air and missile defense, as well as exchanged views on possible directions for expanding assistance from Norway in this matter.
Zelenskyy also thanked the Norwegian side for the substantial military and humanitarian assistance totaling about $7.1 billion that Ukraine receives under the multi-year Fridtjof Nansen program for 2023-2027.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Last year, at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Group of Seven signed a declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine, which was later joined by several other countries.
The agreement includes not only military assistance but also financial and economic support, as well as the reconstruction of Ukraine. In particular, it provides a guarantee of assistance to our country in case of renewed aggression from the Russian Federation.
Among the countries that have signed a security guarantee agreement with Ukraine are:
Recently Ukraine and Portugal also agreed to begin negotiations on the signing of a bilateral security agreement. Additionally, earlier in April, President Zelenskyy proposed that Hungary start working on a security guarantee agreement.
