Ukraine to sign security agreements with US, Japan at G7: President Zelenskyy

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that his country will sign security agreements with the US and Japan at the 50th G7 summit, which is currently taking place in Italy.

“A year ago, at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the G7 adopted a Declaration of support for Ukraine. Today, as part of this Declaration, we are signing the final two security agreements with G7 members,” Zelenskyy said on X.

Aside from producing jet fighters in collaboration, expediting pilot training, and accelerating aircraft delivery, the main issues for Kyiv at the summit is the development of Ukraine's air defense based on Western systems and an increase in long-range capability, which the country is seeking during talks in Italy, Zelenskyy said.

He said Ukraine further seeks the approval of the format for using frozen Russian assets in the West to benefit Kyiv, particularly in developing the country’s defense industry, and joint weapon production.

“Bilateral security agreements will be signed during meetings with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The document with the United States will be unprecedented, as it should be for leaders who support Ukraine.

“...The entire Ukrainian people, including our warriors, see that the G7 will always support Ukraine,” he added.

Earlier, the 50th edition of the G7 summit began in the town of Borgo Egnazia, on Italy’s southeastern heel, on Thursday. The summit will conclude on Saturday.

Ukraine has already signed bilateral security treaties with 15 other countries, namely the UK, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Latvia, Finland, Italy, France, Canada, and the Netherlands.

The agreements came as the G7 declared during a NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius last July that it is starting negotiations with Kyiv to formalize its "enduring support" for Ukraine through "bilateral security commitments and arrangements."