Ukraine’s path toward formal NATO accession remains undefined while the country remains at war. Yet Berlin has taken a decisive step to secure sustained military and financial backing through a bilateral agreement that obliges Germany to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, just as the two-year milestone since Moscow’s invasion approaches. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed in Berlin what both leaders described as a historic accord, even though it is bilateral in format.
“This is not merely another document or commitment; it is the concrete proof that we will not stop supporting Ukraine”, Scholz stated during a joint press conference with Zelenskiy at the German Chancellery. Zelenskiy visited Berlin on his way to Paris, where he would sign a similar accord with French President Emmanuel Macron, while awaiting additional backing on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference MSC. The visit underscored a broader European push to align on Ukraine aid as the conflict persists.
The bilateral agreement commits Germany to supply everything necessary for Ukraine to possess modern, capable armed forces that can respond to any future aggression, according to Scholz. He added that Kyiv can rely on Germany for diplomatic, economic, and continued military support as it has done so far. In a moment marked by urgency, Scholz emphasized the desire to end the brutal war promptly but acknowledged that Russia under Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to negotiate a solid and lasting peace. He also noted the shocks caused by the death of opposition figure Aleksei Navalny in custody, which added to the sense of geopolitical tension surrounding the talks.
This German-Ukrainian agreement is viewed as an interim step toward Ukraine’s potential integration into the Atlantic Alliance. It provides for ongoing military support but does not entail the binding mutual defense obligation described in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. Instead, it formalizes, for an indefinite period, the kind of defense assistance Berlin has already supplied to Kiev, making Germany a leading provider after the United States in terms of defense materiel to Ukraine.
Following the signing of these bilateral accords with Berlin and Paris, Zelenskiy plans to finalize similar arrangements with other major Western allies, including the United States and Poland, as well as the Baltic and Nordic partners. European allies on the eastern flank have shown particular resolve in backing Ukraine, reinforcing a shared commitment to Kyiv during a time of intense security concerns. Finland and Estonia, among others, are expected to discuss these protection arrangements in the Munich Security Conference, a forum that has hosted high-stakes diplomacy for six decades.
Before departing on a European tour, Zelenskiy also announced, through his regular video briefings, a new security architecture for Ukraine. The plan aims to reassure Western partners about the stability of military and defense institutions, addressing corruption concerns that have periodically emerged within Ukrainian defense structures. This renewed emphasis on transparency accompanies a broader effort to align Ukraine with Western security norms as it seeks long-term guarantees while navigating a difficult strategic environment. [Source: Reuters]