The Government of Spain and seven other European partners have announced in Vilnius that they join the G7 declaration, which this Wednesday has offered something similar to security guarantees to Ukraine until the country can formally join NATO. “We 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 likewise affirm that Ukraine’s security is an integral part of the security of the Euro-Atlantic region,” the statement said.
“The G7 has announced the imminent start of talks to define commitments and security arrangements in the medium and long term and give Ukraine a security that all the allies are already providing. It is about having the support of its signatories to develop its armed forces, to develop its legitimate defense and deterrence against Russia. Spain has decided to join this G7 declaration”, announced President Pedro Sánchez at the end of the meeting.
The debate on these “guarantees” has been open for months within the Atlantic Alliance, the European Union and the main international forums. President Volodimir Zelenski has asked for it actively and passively, but the US, Germany or France have always understood them within the framework of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, or perhaps in Article 4, which refers to collective defense and what it does one state automatically when another is attacked. And that, they reiterate, is impossible right now.
Statements of support, pledges of continued aid, “security arrangements” in the words of a diplomatic source may be offered. Something similar to what was offered to Sweden or Finland when they asked to join, but much more articulated. This is: that friendly countries promise to maintain military aid, sending arms or ammunition, sharing intelligence for as long as necessary. For the peace of mind of the victim or as a warning to Moscow, which has always hoped that the passage of time would break Western unity. And that is what has been done now.
Spanish government sources explain that our country has decided to join the Netherlands, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Denmark, Poland and Norway. The document, in reality, does not specify anything yet, but it opens the doors of a negotiation to define the terms. It is not what Zelensky asked for, it is not what he dreamed of, but it is more than the Alliance as a whole could afford. “I understand that they do not want to get involved in a world war, it is logical and understandable,” said the Ukrainian on Wednesday during his speech to the media together with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“A formal invitation would have been optimal, but the result of the summit is good,” he acknowledged after the harsh public reproach that he launched at his main partners the day before, trying to scratch as much as possible. Most of those present understood that it was a message for the Ukrainian citizenry and a form of lobbying, and they tolerate it. But that kind of gestures do not like. The clearest was the British Secretary of Defense, Ben Wallace, who stressed that his country “is not Amazon”, in reference to the constant and detailed demands for weapons from kyiv. “A little thanks is welcome,” he added, in much the same terms as Biden’s national security adviser. Hence Zelensky’s change in tone, much more conciliatory, friendly and grateful in his personal meetings with the great leaders. He met the US president for an hour, who later gave a speech at Vilnius University before thousands of enthusiasts .
The statement on Wednesday, to which a total of 15 members have joined, says that “negotiations with Ukraine begin to formalize, through bilateral security agreements and commitments aligned with this multilateral framework, in accordance with our respective legal and constitutional requirements , our lasting support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity, rebuilds its economy, protects its citizens and pursues integration into the Euro-Atlantic community (…) Other countries wishing to contribute to this effort to ensure a free, strong Ukraine , independent and sovereign may join this Joint Declaration at any time.”
It is a very measured and careful paragraph, which emphasizes that there are constitutional limits or legal requirements before being able to close anything specific. That diplomatic work will begin immediately and will be, everyone insists, bilateral. Each one, those of the G7 and the additional eight, will offer what they want or can, choosing their red lines.
But the general, long-term objective remains defined: “Ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future through the continuous provision of modern military equipment in the land, air and sea domains, prioritizing defense air, artillery and long-range fires, armored vehicles and other key capabilities, such as combat air, and promoting greater interoperability with Euro-Atlantic partners. They also give “support to further develop Ukraine’s defense industrial base , training and training exercises for Ukrainian forces and intelligence sharing and cooperation, as well as support for cyber defense, security and resilience initiatives, including to deal with hybrid threats”
The message from the three continents, Europe, America and Asia is that time is not Russia’s best ally. In the final declaration approved on Tuesday during the 74th NATO summit, the explicit reference to these “guarantees” or “commitments” disappeared, even when they were dealt with bilaterally due to general reluctance.
RESPONSE IN CASE OF ATTACKS
“In the event of a future Russian armed attack, we intend to immediately consult with Ukraine to determine the appropriate steps. We intend, consistent with our respective legal and constitutional requirements, to provide Ukraine with prompt and sustained security assistance, modern military equipment and economic assistance, impose economic and other costs on Russia, and consult with Ukraine on its needs while exercising its right to self-defense enshrined in UN Charter Article 51. To this end, we will work with Ukraine in an enhanced package of commitments and security arrangements in case of future aggression to allow Ukraine to defend its territory and sovereignty”, states the statement signed by Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Giorgia Meloni, Fumio Kishida and Rishi Shunak.
“We reaffirm that, in accordance with our respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain frozen until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. We recognize the need to establish an international mechanism for redress for damages, losses or injuries caused by Russian aggression and we express our readiness to explore options for the development of appropriate mechanisms,” the world leaders added.
This process not only seeks to show specific solidarity with the attacked country, but is also part of a larger effort to pave its way towards NATO and the EU, as it entails a series of obligations on the part of Kiev as well. Reforms, changes, adjustments that allow later, despite the damage of the war, a reasonably fast path for accession. Militarily it is easier and Zelenski himself constantly repeats that in a certain way they are already part of the Alliance, since they use its information, their intelligence, their training, their weapons and they are reinforcing the interoperability of the forces every day. But the political, legal and economic part is another song.
In the absence of what is specified in the coming weeks or months, Ukraine commits to “positively contribute to the security of partners and strengthen measures of transparency and accountability with respect to assistance”, to prevent corruption that has plagued the country for decades undermined common efforts. To that end, Kiev pledges that it will continue “to implement law enforcement, judicial, anti-corruption, corporate governance, economic, security sector and state management reforms that highlight its commitment to democracy, the state of law, respect for human rights and freedom of the press, and put their economy on a sustainable path”.
At the Defense level, the requirements are that they follow the reforms for “the strengthening of democratic civilian control of the armed forces and the improvement of efficiency and transparency in Ukraine’s defense institutions and industry.”
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