EU leaders to approve decision on security guarantees for Ukraine at summit

The European Council is to meet on Thursday and Friday to discuss what future security commitments the EU can provide to Ukraine, which is seeking EU and NATO membership.

Source: Euractiv, citing the latest draft conclusions of the EU summit, reported by European Pravda

Details: According to media reports, the idea of the wording on security guarantees was proposed last week by France, whose President Emmanuel Macron called for "solid and reliable security guarantees" for Ukraine at the GLOBSEC conference in May.

Quote: "The European Union and member states stand ready to contribute, together with partners, to future security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine defend itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and resist destabilisation efforts."

More details: The text states that "these commitments will be taken in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain member states and taking into account the security and defence interests of all member states", which is intended to allow each member state to decide on its contribution in accordance with its own laws and traditions.

Three EU diplomats told Euractiv that member state leaders now have to give "clarifications" or "interpretations" of what these security commitments might be – especially from neutral countries like Austria or Ireland.

"Nobody knows exactly what kind of security commitments, how to provide them, how to finance them? It's like opening Pandora's box," said one source, referring to the fact that the EU has neither clear defence policy boundaries nor a coherent approach to defence.

According to another EU diplomat, "some member states want to make sure that this in no way contradicts the transatlantic debate, especially in the run-up to the NATO summit in Vilnius later this month".

Background: The issue of security guarantees is due to be discussed at the NATO summit in July.

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