Cyril Tregub’s Post

🇺🇦🤝 Ukraine has signed historic security agreements with six countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, and Canada! They mark the consolidation of the partner countries' unwavering support, including such crucial points as: ▪️sanctions against Russia; ▪️special tribunal for the crime of aggression; ▪️the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. The parties also prioritise security cooperation in the military, political, financial, and humanitarian spheres. The agreements provide substantial macro-financial and defence assistance to Ukraine in 2024: 🇬🇧 £2.5 billion from the UK 🇩🇪 over €7 billion from Germany 🇫🇷 €3 billion from France 🇩🇰 at least €1.8 billion from Denmark 🇨🇦 over $3 billion from Canada Such powerful security agreements strengthen Ukraine's position and significantly contribute to our resilience. We thank our allies for making Ukraine stronger! 💪

In late 2023 we brought together experts from across wider Europe (the Europe of the OSCE), including Ukraine and Russia, to discuss how different scenarios for Ukraine and the Russian invasion would affect the future of European security, including long term levels of conflict and risk, implications for NATO cohesion and European integration, societal frictions, arms control (or not), and the ability to tackle climate change. The report is attached in the link below and has a lot of food for thought. It was obviously not an easy discussion to have. It is difficult even to find a common language to describe the war precipitated by Russia’s 2022 full scale invasion of Ukraine. For Ukrainians it’s vitally important to acknowledge this as a full scale invasion (not the start of an invasion as that happened eight years ago). Meanwhile of course Russians living in Russia were originally supposed to call it “a special military operation”. Over time there has been more talk in Russia of a “war” - but which war? The invasion of Ukraine is increasing bound up with the idea of a larger (permanent, unwinnable) “war with the West”. So how to find neutral language? In practice we can simply talk about “the war” but even so there’s a question of the scope (Ukraine, Russia and Europe, Russia and “the West”, even if the West is a nebulous enemy with no defined borders or membership). The “Ukraine war” often used as shorthand triggered a sense in many east European participants that the reality of invasion and occupation was being papered over - even if the people using it were simply using it for convenience as they would speak of the Gulf war or the Falklands war. This sensitively reflects deeper concerns about the real intentions of outside observers and the subtle ways narratives can start to shift; being sidelined, neglected, misread; and in general about language and categories being defined by others who can’t be guaranteed to understand or care. This recurs across conflicts: “the war in Gaza” is something I speak of a lot; but there are meaningful differences between speaking of “the Israel-Hamas war”; “Israel’s war on Hamas”; “Israel’s war in Gaza”; “Israel’s war on Gaza”, or putting it in the context of a major escalation in a 75 year conflict and occupation; and that’s before we even get to the discussion of genocide, plausible risks of genocide and genocidal acts against Palestinians or Hamas genocidal acts against Israelis. Being able to actually discuss why these words matter can be worthwhile in itself as a way of discussing competing meanings and understandings. Our broader discussion was not designed to discuss how people thought the invasion and war would end or should end. We used a set of possible outcomes as inputs, not outputs, to discuss how Europe would live together “afterwards”, several years down the road. Again “the day after” is a sort of fiction - it’s a thought experiment. Please do read - would love to hear feedback.

The signing of the 20 M by the EU Council coincides with the deployment of Kenyan armed forces in Haiti. The EU Council adopted a EUR 20 million assistance measure under the European Peace Facility today. Its objective is to improve the operational capabilities of the Kenyan Defense Forces to PROTECT THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY OF THE COUNTRY and its civilian population against INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THREATS. Meanwhile, Secretary of State -US- Antony Blinken days ago ordered the State Department to proceed with the funding of $109 million for the deployment of an ARMED INTERVENTION MISSION in Haiti by Kenyan special forces. Some 300 million had been foreseen for this mission but reduced to the amount indicated above. “The crossover of interests and the political incoherence” These scenarios show the complexity of international relations and the interference of foreign powers in other countries, which can have negative consequences for the stability and peace for which they advocate. Moreover, previous results have shown that armed interventions cannot be a solution in the context of Haiti.

As military coups and a spiraling security crisis affects the #Sahel, how can the EU remain engaged in the region? This is the question I tackled in my most recent commentary. There are competing offers for cooperation in the Sahel, but disengaging is not an option for the EU. It should adopt a tactic of 'strategic patience' while seeking a common position based on shared principles and guidelines. In doing so, the EU should not shy away from critical voices, even from those that may not necessarily agree with its values... This can inform its context anlysis and avoid future blinds spots in its assessment of an ever-evolving situation. Read the full commentary here 👉 https://bit.ly/43A5XJk #development #security #africa

💙💛 Ukraine has started negotiations with the US on a bilateral agreement on security guarantees, - Yermak. These #security assurances will strengthen Ukraine's progress towards future membership in the Euro-Atlantic community, including the EU and NATO, which is the ultimate goal and the most reliable security guarantee. #ukraine #ukrainewar #warinukraine

Israelis support more measured response to Iran if action would threaten their alliances – CBS News Watch CBS News A recent Hebrew University poll found that 74% of Israelis oppose a major retaliatory strike on Iran, following its drone and missile attack, if it would harm Israel security alliances with other allies, including the U.S. Imtiaz Tyab reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Not Now Turn On Source link The post Israelis support more measured response to Iran if action would threaten their alliances appeared first on World Online. #Israelis #support #measured #response #Iran #action #threaten #alliances Israelis support more measured response to Iran if action would threaten their allianceshttps://lnkd.in/dHjCa7hN

Allies promise to support Ukraine and are convinced that the country should become a NATO member for global security. A joint statement of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council was adopted in Brussels, which confirms the NATO allies’ readiness to support Ukraine to victory in the war against the aggressor country. “Russian attacks are a cruel reminder of the significant and direct threat that the aggressor state continues to pose to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic space and globally, as well as the imperative to remain united and stand by Ukraine until its victory," the document says. It is also noted: "To achieve peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic space, a strong, democratic, and protected Ukraine must become a full member of the NATO and EU families." At the same time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted: "The process we are observing in a record short time - first with Finland, and now with Sweden - demonstrates that NATO's doors are open, including for Ukraine, which will become a member of NATO." https://lnkd.in/d8Ninidv