military aid, assistance in the event of aggression… What the security agreement signed between kyiv and Paris contains

Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Volodymyr Zelensky through this pact which provides for military aid of “up to 3 billion euros” in 2024 and support for Ukraine’s future membership in Europe.

A crucial diplomatic step forward for Ukraine, which is experiencing a degraded military situation with the fall of the town of Adviïvka, in the east of the country. Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky signed in Paris, Friday February 16, a bilateral security agreement supposed to guarantee lasting civil and military support for Ukraine, at war for two years. “Helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty goes hand in hand with defending our sovereignty and strategic autonomy”pleaded the French president after signing the agreement, denouncing “the desire for aggression” and the “hardening of Russia”.

This pact, concluded for a period of ten years, follows the commitments made by the G7 at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023. Ukraine has already concluded similar agreements with the United Kingdom and Germany , while American aid remains blocked in Congress by the Republican camp. Military aid, cooperation in the event of new Russian aggression, support for Ukraine’s membership in NATO… Franceinfo summarizes the main measures of this agreement.

Military aid of 3 billion euros

After 1.7 billion euros in 2022 and 2.1 billion euros in 2023, France commits to paying 3 billion euros in additional military support to Ukraine in 2024. Paris wants to help Ukraine to strengthen its military capabilities to defend its territory and deter future attacks, by providing it with equipment and training Ukrainian forces.

A partnership between the two defense industries is envisaged, with “French investments”there “location of production in Ukraine” and the “joint production of weapons and ammunition priority”, we can read in the agreement (PDF) posted online by the Elysée. France must also “strengthen the supply chain of critical materials needed” to this production. A “exchange of information” in terms of defense and joint research into new weapons and equipment must be encouraged.

Civil aid to “rebuild” Ukraine

This aid – not quantified – includes humanitarian assistance and participation in the reconstruction of the country. Long-term French support is planned, among others, in the transport, energy, agriculture and health sectors.

Russia is being asked to pay for its damage to Ukraine, with pending legal measures to freeze Russian assets. Measures against Moscow are maintained: France remains determined “to apply severe sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy and those, inside and outside the Russian Federation, who support the war or profit from it”, underlines the agreement. Furthermore, the signatories support investigations and legal mechanisms to ensure the accountability of the perpetrators of “war crimes and other atrocities”.

Cooperation in the fight against disinformation and cybersecurity

As Russia carries out massive disinformation campaigns, signatories to the agreement pledge to “counter digital interference and manipulation of information” through Moscow, as well as “global propaganda”. The agreement provides for “common education and training programs” for information integrity professionals.

Cyberattacks increased by 300% between 2020 and 2022 in NATO countries, and by 250% in Ukraine, according to a report from the company specializing in the domain Mandiant, owned by Google. Ukraine must receive support in order to “detect, deter and disrupt any cyber aggression, any cyber espionage”. Cooperation is also planned in intelligence, counter-espionage, the fight against serious crime and organized crime. This involves combating the infiltration of individuals and groups with criminal influence into Ukrainian society. Signatory countries must cooperate in joint investigations and operations.

Assistance in the event of future armed attack

The agreement provides for the possibility of future Russian aggression against Ukraine. Such action “would violate the Charter of the United Nations and the fundamental principles of international law”, threatening the “Euro-Atlantic security” including that of France, recalls the text.

France should then provide Ukraine “rapid and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment in all areas”even “economic assistance”. Economic sanctions will again be considered for Russia.

Support for Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO

By deploying technical experts within the Ukrainian administration, France is also committed to helping kyiv reform in the areas of defense, justice, the fight against corruption and governance. The aim is to meet the obligations required for membership in Europe. “The implementation of these reforms will contribute to the strengthening of democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, modernization and resilience of the Ukrainian economy”provides the agreement.

Still according to the pact, “Ukraine’s future membership in NATO would constitute a useful contribution to peace and stability in Europe. The text meanwhile provides for an evolution towards the concepts and operational procedures of the Atlantic alliance.

This possible integration arouses as much unanimity among Ukrainian opinion as it raises debates within the ranks of the alliance, reports Ivan Klyszcz, of the International Center for Defense and Security, in Estonia, to AFP. Gold “Ukraine cannot wait”, he adds. This agreement remains in place as long as Ukraine is not a member of NATO.