Great Britain and Ukraine sign security cooperation agreement

(Patria) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have signed a security cooperation agreement, the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland announced.

"The UK and Ukraine have decided to deepen cooperation and partnership based on common interests in defending international order and law, peace, and the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms," the document published on the UK Government's website stated.

The agreement focuses on three main components of the United Kingdom's security commitments to Ukraine: providing comprehensive assistance, preventing and actively deterring any military escalation, and supporting Ukraine's future integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Радий вітати Ріші Сунака в Україні.

Сьогодні день, коли історія Європи змінилась. Україна та Велика Британія підписали нову, безпрецедентну безпекову угоду.

Це не просто декларація. Це реальність, яка настане завдяки нашій співпраці та, зокрема, безпековим гарантіям від… pic.twitter.com/nJmFjY67Bk

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 12, 2024

The agreement stipulates that in the event of Ukraine's defensive combat operations against Russia after the end of the current conflict, London and Kyiv will consult within 24 hours to determine the necessary deterrence measures, and London would "provide Ukraine with rapid and lasting security assistance."

The document states that the parties reserve the right to amend these provisions to ensure the broadest and most effective collective response to any future armed attack, RSE reports.

The United Kingdom has also committed, among other things, to contribute to the development of the Ukrainian naval fleet.

Sunak arrived in Kyiv yesterday on an unannounced visit, where he expressed the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine's fight against Russian attacks "for as long as it takes."