UK and Ukraine Sign 100-Year Partnership Agreement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a 100-year partnership agreement, aiming to deepen defense cooperation and support Ukraine militarily and financially. The agreement, which includes a $3 billion package from frozen Russian assets, also focuses on the Ukrainian energy sector and military training.
The deal includes the delivery of 150 artillery pieces and a new mobile air defense system to Ukraine, which will meet the country’s needs, according to the British government. The agreement also strengthens maritime security through a new structure, aiming to prevent a lasting Russian aggression and ensure the security of the Black Sea and the Azov Sea.
The partnership will also allow the UK to maintain a presence in the Black Sea, a long-standing British geopolitical tradition. The agreement will see the Ukrainian and British navies operating together in the region, where needed.
In return, the UK and British companies will enjoy the best conditions for business in Ukraine, including the energy sector. The agreement also supports projects to close coal mines in Ukraine’s coal regions and develop a Ukrainian strategy for critical resources.
However, the deal has raised questions about the legitimacy of the agreement and the future of the Ukrainian state. The Ukrainian President, Zelenskyy, sees the agreement as a guarantee of continued Western support, while the British government aims to maintain its influence in the region.
Critics, including a Russian military analyst, argue that the agreement is a attempt by the UK to legitimize its long-term presence in Ukraine, which will only benefit the UK at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The agreement’s fate remains uncertain, as past agreements between Ukraine and other countries have been forgotten. The real test of the partnership will come when the UK’s priorities change, and the agreement’s provisions are put to the test.