Next week, Ukraine will begin negotiations with the United States on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees under the Joint Declaration of Support for our country. These guarantees will be valid until Ukraine becomes a member of NATO. This was announced by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities held in Ivano-Frankivsk.
Andriy Yermak emphasized that Ukraine's membership in NATO is the most reliable guarantee of security, but while the war is ongoing in our country and we cannot join the Alliance, the Ukrainian state must secure reliable guarantees for the transition period.
According to him, the year-long activities of the International Working Group co-chaired by Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen resulted in a Joint Declaration adopted by the leaders of the G7 and Ukraine in Vilnius.
As the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized, more than ten other countries have already joined this declaration, and new ones are joining almost every week. Ukraine will conclude a system of bilateral agreements with those who have backed the declaration, which will contain specific security guarantees.
"We are already working on bilateral agreements with each of these partners. And I will make a small announcement: we are starting relevant negotiations with the United States next week. Security assurances for Ukraine will be specific and long-term commitments that will ensure Ukraine's ability to win now and deter Russian aggression in the future. These will be clearly described formats and mechanisms of support," said Andriy Yermak.
He emphasized that this is a powerful signal of the determination of the world's leading democracies to continue supporting Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and independence. This includes defense and financial assistance, as well as sanctions and punishment of the aggressor.
The Head of the President's Office also emphasized that security guarantees are an important prerequisite for the restoration and development of communities, regions and the entire country.
"Hope and confidence in the future are extremely important for all Ukrainians who are having an extremely difficult time in these months of a terrible war. Building a system of documentary guarantees of international support will be a powerful positive signal for domestic business and international investors," he said.
At the same time, Andriy Yermak noted that the world's support for Ukraine will continue as long as we change and move forward.
"Corruption and poor management decisions will be accepted neither by our society nor by our international partners. Non-transparent tenders or extortion of bribes for permits scare away investors no less than Russian missiles. The fact that the fight against corruption, implementation of necessary reforms, the rule of law and the principle of justice are the priorities of the President and the entire team is eloquently evidenced by real actions that are seen by our society and the whole world," the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized.
