Agreement on security cooperation between Ukraine and Italy

Preamble

Ukraine and Italy, hereinafter referred to as “the Participants”, reiterate their condemnation to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter.

Italy reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its borders which have been internationally recognized since 1991, including the territorial sea, and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

The Participants recognize that Ukraine and the whole Europe will not be secure until there is a just peace that respects Ukraine’s rights under international law and the UN Charter.

Following the Joint Declaration of G7 Countries signed in Vilnius on 12 July 2023, Italy will contribute, together with partners, to security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine defend itself, resist destabilization efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future, including efforts to develop the security and defence forces of Ukraine, rebuild its national economy, and protect its citizens.

Italy supports Ukraine’s initiative for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ukrainian 10-Point Peace Formula includes a variety of important objectives, many of which Italy is already working on, including food and energy security. Italy stands ready to cooperate with Ukraine to ensure as wide an international participation as possible in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

The Participants recall that Ukraine will continue to implement an ambitious reform programme and that Italy is dedicated to supporting Ukraine’s reform efforts. These are essential for its European and NATO aspirations.

Ukraine’s defence, security, recovery, reform, in the context of its European and Euro-Atlantic ambitions are mutually reinforcing.

Therefore, Italy and Ukraine have jointly determined to strengthen their security cooperation by pursuing the following bilateral long-term security commitments and measures.

 

Part I. Security and Military Assistance

 

Article 1. Defence and military cooperation

1. The Participants recall the inherent right of states to individual and collective self-defence, and the unlawfulness of all attempts to redraw borders by force. Security and defence forces of Ukraine are defending not only state sovereignty, independence and their territory but also the UN Charter, our shared values and fundamental principles of international law. Italy will continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend itself for as long as it takes.
2. It is the policy of Italy to assist Ukraine with preservation of its qualitative defence and military edge amid rapid, uncertain and challenging regional political and security transformation.
3. The Participants will work together, and with other partners of Ukraine, to ensure security and defence forces of Ukraine are able to fully restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as to increase Ukraine’s resilience so that it is sufficient to deter and defend against future attacks and coercion.
4. To this end, the Participants will cooperate on ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and deterring Russian aggression in the future. Italy will support Ukraine in defending its sovereignty within its means and capabilities, in accordance with national legislative and constitutional requirements and will provide Ukraine with timely security assistance, modern military equipment (including military medical support) and weapons, across the land, air and sea, space and cyber domains, prioritizing, but not limited to, air defence, artillery, long-range firepower, armoured vehicles, demining, reconnaissance means, unmanned systems, engineer means, information technologies, electronic warfare, air force and maritime capabilities and other key capabilities as required by present and future circumstances.
5. From the beginning of the war, Italy has comprehensively supported Ukraine with contributions in different sectors. Among them, 110 million Euros for budget support, 200 million Euros on soft loans, 100 million Euros on humanitarian aid, 820 million Euros to support Ukrainian refugees in Italy, 400 million Euros approximately for macrofinancial support, 213 million Euros for development support, 200 million Euros to sustain the energy resilience of Ukraine. Italy has made substantial contributions to Ukraine and will continue addressing the most urgent and immediate needs of Ukraine to strengthen its security capabilities.
6. Italy provided Ukraine with 8 packages of military aid in 2022 and 2023 and will intend to maintain the same level of additional military support in 2024, which shall be determined in detail through consultations between the participants and taking into account Ukraine’s contingent needs. In this regard, Italy has already extended for all of 2024 the relevant legislation authorizing further military support.
7.  Italy will continue its support to Ukraine for the ten-year duration of this Agreement.

 

Article 2. Ukraine future force capabilities

1. Italy is willing to be part of the international endeavor, bilaterally and with partners (e.g. within G7, EU and Euro-Atlantic frameworks, including through participation in Capabilities Coalitions within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group), in order to support the Defence Forces of Ukraine and other security components in its modernization efforts. In this sense, the Italian defence industry base is also ready to interact with the Ukrainian industries to support them in rebuilding or consolidating domestic productions for equipment, materials and ammunitions.
2. Italy will support the development of security and defence forces of Ukraine including, but not limited to future force design, a move towards NATO concepts and operating procedures, command and staff training, combined exercises, and enhanced compatibility and interoperability with NATO Allies.

 

Article 3. Defence industry cooperation

1. Defence industries of the Participants will enhance their cooperation within the limits of their respective laws and in accordance with the existing framework based on bilateral agreements. In particular, Italy supports Italian companies in their effort to cooperate with Ukraine through the Ukrainian Defence Industry Compact initiative, including considering technology transfer, partnerships, establishment of joint ventures and investments’ opportunities.
2. Italy will work with its Defence Industry and Ukraine to contribute to the development of Ukraine’s defence industrial base, develop strategic cooperation roadmap in defence industry and identify opportunities for closer defence industrial partnerships and collaboration. Italy will work with Ukraine to identify the most impactful investment areas, strengthen efforts to reduce existing barriers for cooperation, and encourage and support its Defence Industry to invest, in particular exploring opportunities for joint production.The Participants will promote the integration of Ukrainian industries with the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), while leveraging EU initiatives where relevant.
3. Italy will work with Ukraine to alleviate existing bottlenecks in the defence materials supply chain, which hinder the development of Ukraine’s manufacturing capacity and capability for essential or priority weaponry and ammunition.
4. The Participants will work to identify funding sources required to enable development of Ukraine’s defence industrial base and encourage investment in new facilities. Italy will provide financial assistance and support for the enhancement of Ukraine's defence industry.
5. The Participants will promote information exchange on their respective defence related research and development efforts in order to implement joint projects and programs to develop new defence solutions. To this aim, Italy will encourage its Defence Industry to work with Ukraine to support local repair and maintenance of defense systems, ensuring the protection of transferred technologies and intellectual property rights.
6. Italy will support, where possible, Ukraine’s efforts to integrate its defence industry into NATO and the EU defence and security frameworks.

 

Article 4. Training and exercises

1. Italy will continue to contribute to the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) in Ukraine by supplying personnel and training modules, as appropriate. At the same time, the Italian Armed Forces will carry on specific and specialized trainings on a bilateral basis, in close coordination with the EUMAM in Ukraine and the Security Assistance Group – Ukraine (SAG-U). As soon as the situation will permits, on request of the counterpart, the Italian Armed Forces will examine the possibility to conduct combined exercises, in Italy and in Ukraine, in order to better support the process of standardization and interoperability of the Defence and Security Forces of Ukraine.

2. Italy will also provide training and train-the-trainer sessions for law enforcement agencies, like Ukrainian National Guard and State Border Guard Service, and will continue material support to partner agencies in the law enforcement area. Along with this, Italy will also provide support to medical training and prosthetics.

 

Article 5. Security and defence sector reform

 

1. Ukraine will advance defence reforms and modernization, including by strengthening democratic civilian oversight of the security sector and improving efficiency and transparency across Ukraine’s security and defence institutions and defence industry.
2. Italy will continue to assist and advise the reform and further development of Ukraine’s future forces, both bilaterally and with partners (within EU and Euro-Atlantic frameworks, including through contributions to the EU Advisory Mission – EUAM - in Ukraine). Moreover, as soon as the security situation will permits, Italy intends to cooperate through specific Military Cooperation Plans aimed to support Ukraine military development. Furthermore, Italy also intends to support Ukrainian Defence professional military development by providing access to Italian military education institutions.
3. Italy will advise and support work on defence governance and policies to support Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence.

 

Article 6. Cooperation in security field

 

a. Cooperation in the sphere of intelligence.

 

The Participants will enhance their intelligence and security cooperation, in accordance with the existing framework based on bilateral agreements.

 

b. Cooperation in the sphere of cyber security.

 

1. The Participants will work together to enable Ukraine to detect, deter and disrupt any hostile states’ cyber aggression and cyber espionage, as well as hybrid warfare, including through greater cyber resilience and critical infrastructure protection from cyber-attacks, training cyber security specialists and providing international technical assistance to Ukraine.
2. The Participants will work together to identify and deter the irresponsible use of cyber capabilities by any state and non-state actors against the Participants. The Participants will support each other by sharing intelligence and expertise in the areas of cybersecurity and advanced communications technologies (including, but not limited to, cloud and quantum computing, advanced networking technologies, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, etc.), as well as by taking cyber capacity building measures to counter this threat.

 

c. Cooperation on information security.

 

The Participants will:

• collaborate to improve Ukraine's capabilities to counter information security threats, Russian and any other information manipulation, malign propaganda and disinformation campaigns affecting national security;
• promote the development of joint educational and training programs for information security professionals and regular exchange of experience.

 

d. Cooperation in the sphere of combating serious and organised crime.

 

Where security and safety conditions permit, the Participants will take actions to counteract the activities of serious and organized crime (SOC), in particular individuals and groups that are trying to infiltrate across Ukrainian society, have criminal influence in certain regions, including the temporarily occupied ones, and are actively used as a tool of hybrid warfare to counteract the processes of recovery and reconciliation in Ukraine.

The Participants recognize the need to fight against Illicit Finance operations aimed at undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its internal stability.

 

e. Security of Information.

 

No information, either classified or non-classified, exchanged under this Agreement, shall be released to any third entity (including third States, International Organizations and national administrations that are not the original intended addressee of the information, such as the judiciary authorities in national court proceedings) without the prior written consent of the Originator.

 

Part II. Economic Partnership

 

Article 7. Economic Stability, Resilience and Reconstruction, Sustainable Development and Reforms.

Italy, together with international organizations and partners, is committed to participate in the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is important to lay the ground for an ambitious and long-term engagement that will create opportunities and enable the Ukrainian people to rebuild their country. Engaging all relevant partners, including private companies and international donors, with the aim of securing the financial support, investments and knowledge needed, is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Ukraine. In this vein, Italy will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2025.

 

a. Economic Cooperation.

 

Based of the Joint Declaration issued on April 26, 2023 at the end of the bilateral Ukraine Recovery Conference, Italy and Ukraine committed to strengthen cooperation between their companies for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine and expressed their readiness to work together within the framework of sanctions to ensure economic stability and prosperity of both countries.

 

b. Energy and other Critical Infrastructure.

 

1. Italy will continue providing support to Ukraine in coping with the urgent humanitarian needs generated by Russia’s war of aggression, in fast rebuilding destroyed critical and social infrastructure and livelihoods, and in setting the best possible conditions for the reconstruction of the socio-economic fabric of the country.
2. Italy will contribute to the development of Ukraine's critical infrastructure protection capabilities, including through the G7+ Energy coordination group, as well as to the access of Ukrainian specialists to relevant international programs. Italy will engage Ukrainian specialists with experience in critical infrastructure security to implement relevant projects on its territory and in partner countries. The Participants will launch joint educational and training programs for critical infrastructure protection specialists.
3. Italy will work with Ukraine to identify sources of funding, including the private sector, to develop the protection, resilience and restoration of critical infrastructure in various sectors, including energy, transport, food (agriculture), communications, chemicals, arms and ammunition production, etc.
4. The Participants intend to further expand their existing bilateral cooperation to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience against nuclear, biological and chemical weapons-related risks.

 

c. Recovery and Reconstruction and Sustainable Development.

 

1. Italy will support early recovery and reconstruction combining emergency measures with longer-term interventions including within the framework of the G7 Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform. Given the damage caused by Russia’s war of aggression, this implies sustaining short-term relief, fast recovery, reconstruction and modernization, while intensifying international coordination and bilateral cooperation.

2. Participants will cooperate in order to ensure the crucial participation of their private sector in the process of recovering and rebuilding of Ukraine.

3. Italy will continue its partnership with the city of Odesa and Odesa region to support, among others, financially, its reconstruction, resilience and reforms.

 

d. Demining.

1. The Participants will continue working together on the demining of the territory of Ukraine.

2. Italy, in cooperation with other partners, will support the State Emergency Services of Ukraine to develop and sustain international demining standards in its operations.

3. The Participants recognize the need to unite efforts aimed at protecting the population and territories of Ukraine from the negative consequences, including the environmental damage, caused by mines and explosive remnants of war as a result of Russian armed aggression and alleviating the devastating consequences after its completion.

 

e. Compensation for losses, injuries and damages caused by Russian aggression.

1. The Participants reaffirm that, also in view of the future reconstruction of Ukraine, the Russian Federation must be held accountable for reparations to Ukraine for damage, loss or injury arising from its aggression and its internationally wrongful acts. Italy will continue to support the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets until the Russian Federation has paid for damage it has caused to Ukraine.

2. As a priority, the Participants will continue to work together with others, including G7 states, to explore options for the development of appropriate mechanisms to provide compensation for damage, loss, or injury caused by Russian aggression, as also envisaged by the Statute of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine adopted by the Resolution of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe CM/Res(2023)3. In this regard, the Participants will explore all appropriate options in support of a future compensation mechanism for Ukraine to provide prompt and adequate compensation to the victims of the Russian aggression.

 

f. Humanitarian aid, civil defence and resilience.

1. The Participants reaffirm that, as Ukraine begins early recovery and reconstruction, they will ensure the continuation of well-coordinated life-saving humanitarian aid where it is needed. The Participants will work together to ensure a better prioritized, targeted humanitarian response which delivers to those most in need, including in hard-to-reach areas.
2. The Participants will continue to support stabilization and civil defence needs, for example, support to the State Emergency Services of Ukraine in multiple critical areas that bolster their emergency response and improve civil defence, and support to regional and local administrations in the provision of shelters, particularly in schools.
3. The Participants will work together on rebuilding of Ukraine’s national resilience system and seek bilateral and multilateral possibilities, including funding, to develop Ukrainian capabilities to counter all kind of natural and artificial threats and challenges to security of the Ukrainian society, as well as recovery of affected areas and communities.

 

Part. III Reforms

 

Article 8. Ukraine’s Reform Process.

1. Based on the decision taken by the European Council on 23 June 2022 to grant the status of EU candidate country to Ukraine and on 14 December 2023 to open accession negotiations, Italy will continue supporting Ukraine’s aspirations to link reconstruction with reforms on its EU path, working towards full alignment with the EU acquis.

2. Ukraine will implement the necessary reforms in such areas as law enforcement, judiciary, anti-corruption, corporate governance, public administration, business environment, economic, security and defence sector and intelligence, and state management reforms that underscore its commitments to democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and media freedoms, and put its economy on a sustainable and climate-neutral path.

3. Italy encourages Ukraine to continue its ambitious reform process with a particular focus on the reform priorities: justice and public administration, rule of law as well as the fight against corruption and money laundering.

4. Ukraine commits to continue the process of decentralization reforms as well as to strengthen and modernize administration at the central as well as subnational levels.

5. All reforms will be undertaken according to the priority reform areas set out for accession to the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) benchmarks, and in close coordination with major donors, in particular the International Financial Institutions, the EU and the G7. Italy will continue to support Ukraine on this path.

 

Part IV. Sanctions

 

Article 9. Sanctions.

The Participants recognize the value of restrictive measures of the Russian Federation’s access to the finance, goods, technology and services used in its aggression, in bearing down on Russia's revenue streams, and to deter future attacks. The Participants will continue to work to ensure that the costs to Russia of its aggression continue to rise, including, through sanctions and export controls. Since the Russian war of aggression started, Italy has delivered jointly with its EU partners the most extensive sanctions package ever imposed against a major economy. While the Russian Federation’s aggression towards Ukraine continues, Italy will remain committed in the context of the EU to keep in place sanctions’ pressure on Russian Federation as long as its war of aggression against Ukraine continues. Italy will take determined action with partners to tackle all forms of sanctions circumvention as well as to reinforce its own domestic resilience against Russia-linked illicit finance and elites. The Participants will provide each other up-to-date information on the grounds for sanctions and other relevant information, in compliance with relevant obligations.

 

Part V. Accountability

 

Article 10. Accountability.

1. The Participants reaffirm their commitment to holding the Russian Federation accountable for causing losses or damage to individuals and entities, as well as to the state of Ukraine, as a result of its internationally unlawful acts in Ukraine or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the Charter of the United Nations.

2. The Participants reaffirm that the Russian Federation must bear the legal responsibility, including making reparation for any damage caused by such acts, which will also help deter future attacks and support Ukraine's recovery.

3. The Participants will seek to hold to account those responsible for war crimes and other international crimes, committed in or against Ukraine in the context of Russia's war of aggression, consistently with international law, including by supporting the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the International Criminal Court to ensure that alleged international crimes are fully and fairly investigated through independent, effective and robust legal mechanisms.

4. The Participants will continue their engagement in the “Core group on options for the establishment of a tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine”.

 

Part VI. Future Aggressions

 

Article 11. Cooperation in the event of future armed attack.

1. In the event of future Russian armed attack against Ukraine, at the request of either of the Participants, the Participants will consult within 24 hours to determine next steps needed to counter or deter the aggression.

2. Italy affirms that in those circumstances and acting within its means and capabilities and in accordance with its legal and constitutional requirements and in accordance with international and European Union’s rules and law, it would provide Ukraine as appropriate, with swift and sustained support in the field of security and defence, defence industry, military capability development, and economic assistance, seek agreement in the EU to impose economic and other costs on Russia, or any other aggressor, and consult with Ukraine on its needs as it exercises its right of self-defence enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

3. In order to ensure the widest and most effective collective response to any future armed attack the Participants may amend these provisions in order to align with any mechanism that Ukraine may subsequently agree with its other international partners, including the participants in the Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023.

 

Part VII. Bilateral Relations, European and Euro-Atlantic Integration

 

Article 12. Bilateral Relations.

1. The Participants reaffirm their overarching commitment to strengthening their excellent bilateral partnership in all domains, starting from their constant and consistent high-level political and diplomatic dialogue.
2. The Participants will continue to develop a mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic and trade sphere focusing on, yet not limiting to, such areas as energy and green transition, environmental protection and sustainable development, agribusiness, finance and related services, infrastructure and transportation, information and communication technology, while promoting and supporting synergies between respective SMEs, ties between regional and local institutions and people-to-people contacts in all relevant fields.
3. The Participants will avail themselves of all relevant fora to that end, including the established bilateral Italian-Ukrainian Council for Economic, Industrial and Financial Cooperation.

 

Article 13. European support and European Integration.

1. The future of Ukraine and its people lies within the European family. Italy strongly supports Ukraine’s accession process and its efforts in implementing related reforms for its future EU membership.

1. Italy will continue to support Ukraine in establishing conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Ukraine's gradual alignment with the EU Internal Market with the overall goal of Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
2. Italy will continue to support Ukraine on its path towards EU membership and to offer practical guidance.

 

Article 14. Euro-Atlantic Integration.

1. The Participants will cooperate in helping Ukraine making the necessary reforms on Ukraine’s path towards its future NATO membership.

 

Part VIII. Final Provisions

 

Article 15. Timeframe of the Agreement.

1. This Agreement is valid for ten years from the date of its signature. The Participants may decide jointly to extend the duration of this Agreement.
2. This Agreement will come into effect immediately upon signature.
3. At the same time, in accordance with the G7 Joint Declaration of 12 July 2023, the Participants intend this Agreement to remain in force as Ukraine pursues its path to future membership in the Euro-Atlantic community.
4. In the event that Ukraine becomes a member of NATO before the expiry of this Agreement, the Participants will decide on its future status.

 

Article 16. Executive and technical agreements.

1. The Participants will, if necessary, designate authorized bodies for the development and implementation of bilateral agreements in accordance with the areas of cooperation specified in this Agreement.

2. The authorized bodies of the Participants can stipulate executive and technical agreements on specific areas of cooperation within the framework of the implementation of this Agreement.

 

Article 17. Financial provisions.

The expenses arising from the implementation of this Agreement will be covered by the Participants according to their ordinary budget availability without any additional cost for the State budget of the Italian Republic and Ukraine.

 

Article 18. Differences in the interpretation.

Any difference in the interpretation and/or implementation of this Agreement will be settled amicably through direct consultations and negotiations between the Participants.

 

Article 19. Termination.

This Agreement may be terminated by either Participant by giving written notice of its intention to terminate the Agreement to the other Participant. This Agreement shall be terminated six months from the date of receipt of such notice.

 

Article 20. Amendments.

This Agreement may be amended and supplemented by mutual agreement of the Participants, which shall be made in writing.

Signed in Kyiv on 24 February 2024, in duplicate, in the Italian, Ukrainian and English languages. In case of any divergence, the text in English shall prevail.

 

For Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

For Italy: President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni