The United States and Ukraine signed a 10-year security assistance pact during the G7 Summit on Friday. The pact commits the US to training and equipping Ukrainian forces through the expulsion of Russian forces from Ukraine and beyond.

Because of the deal’s negative reception in some quarters, I thought this would be a great opportunity to explain what it is and what it isn’t.

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The agreement aims to increase the quality of Ukraine’s military and serve as a vehicle for eventual NATO integration.

• Build and maintain Ukraine’s credible defense and deterrence capability. The agreement lays out a vision for a Ukrainian future force that is strong, sustainable, and resilient. The United States and Ukraine will deepen security and defense cooperation and collaborating closely with Ukraine’s broad network of security partners. We will support the full range of Ukraine’s current defensive needs now and over the long term by helping Ukraine win the war and strengthening its deterrence capabilities against future threats. Together, we will expand intelligence sharing, enhance interoperability between our militaries in line with NATO standards, and work with our allies and partners to position Ukraine as a long-term contributor to European security.
• Strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to sustain its fight over the long term, including by building on efforts to bolster in Ukraine’s defense industrial base, and supporting its economic recovery and energy security.
• Accelerate Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration, including through Ukraine’s implementation of reforms to its democratic, economic, and security institutions in line with its EU accession goals and NATO’s program of reforms.
• Achieve a just peace that respects Ukraine’s rights under international law, is underwritten by broad global support, upholds the key principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, and includes accountability for Russia’s actions.
• Consult in the event of a future Russian armed attack against Ukraine at the highest levels to determine appropriate and necessary measures to support Ukraine and impose costs on Russia.

This agreement, together with the mutually reinforcing security agreements and arrangements Ukraine has signed with a broad network of partners under the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, is a key part of Ukraine’s bridge to NATO membership. As President Biden said in Vilnius last year and as NATO allies have agreed, Ukraine’s future is in NATO. We are not waiting for the NATO process to be completed to make long-term commitments to Ukraine’s security to address the immediate threats they face and deter any aggression that may occur.

This agreement is very similar to the agreement the US has with Israel. It does not commit the US to military involvement, and it does not contain any promise of funding, only a promise to work with Congress to get funding if needed.

It is an executive agreement and does not need Senate ratification, though, as the Ukraine foreign aid vote showed, this agreement would easily break the 2/3 majority barrier.

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Fifteen nations have signed similar agreements, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy. Japan also signed a 10-year assistance pact Friday. Sixteen other nations are in the process of negotiating agreements with Ukraine.

The bottom line is that no money changed hands, no treaty was negotiated, no commitment from US forces was made, and if Trump wishes to renege on the agreement, nothing will prevent him from doing so. The broad international commitment to Ukraine, including a $50 billion loan financed by the confiscated proceeds of frozen Russian assets, serves as a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his hopes of waiting out the West may have been misplaced.

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