Ukraine Signs Security Agreements with France and Germany

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, signed a security pact with France on Friday, just hours after reaching a security agreement with Germany, which Olaf Scholz welcomed as a "historic step" in support of Ukraine's fight against Russia. According to officials, the 10-year security agreement with France, signed by Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, includes a commitment from France to provide €3 billion in aid in 2024. Officials state that this agreement aims to assist Ukraine in "restoring its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders" and preventing "any further Russian aggression." At a joint press conference with Macron, Zelensky expressed hope that the agreements with Germany and France would provide "motivation" for U.S. efforts to assist his country. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also emphasized that the security pact between Germany and Ukraine, signed earlier on Friday in Berlin, demonstrates that Germany will not "give up" in supporting Ukraine. He also unveiled an immediate military aid package of over €1 billion from Germany. Scholz described the signing of the agreement as a "historic step," stating, "This document shows that Germany will continue to assist Ukraine in defending itself against Russian attacks. I have always said: This assistance will continue for as long as it takes." U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, stated that the Biden administration will "work to provide the weapons and critical resources that Ukraine desperately needs." Ahead of bilateral talks with Zelensky, the Vice President emphasized, "Abandoning Ukraine would be a gift to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin."