Ukraine, UK sign 10-year security cooperation agreement

ANKARA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the UK and Ukraine signed a 10-year "unprecedented” security cooperation agreement.

Zelenskyy said on Telegram that he agreed with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on annual support for Ukraine and "comprehensive cooperation" to increase the military potential of armed and security forces and strengthen the military-industrial complex, state institutions and public systems.

Kyiv will reach a level of security that "by the very fact of its existence" will deter Russia, according to Zelenskyy.

"The term of this agreement with Britain is 10 years. The term can be extended -- by analogy with other similar security agreements concluded by global leaders.

"This day has already entered the history of our state -- today we have an agreement with the UK, a security agreement that we have been working on for a long time. This is the first bilateral agreement implementing the Group of Seven agreement on Ukraine's security guarantees, our protection, and our security growth. Thanks to the United Kingdom and personally to Mr. Prime Minister Sunak for the primacy and leadership," he said.

Zelenskyy also thanked Baltic states for their decision on arms supplies to Ukraine, economic assistance and support of Ukraine's bid to join the EU and NATO.

In a separate statement, Zelenskyy said he met US Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker.

"This visit is a powerful signal of the strong support of our state. Last year was a record-breaking year for the development of Ukrainian-American relations. We are determined to continue to maintain this dynamic," he said.

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that the Biden administration is in the final stages of preparing what could be the final aid package for Ukraine if Congress fails to provide more funding.