David Cameron backs deeper defence links with Ukraine

 
Joseph Watts21 March 2014

David Cameron travelled to Brussels today where he will back the signing of a deal to deepen defence ties between Europe and Ukraine.

The agreement would see the EU building close contacts to improve “military capability” with the country just as Russian troops tighten their stranglehold on Crimea.

Leaders will also explore further targeted sanctions against Russia after Vladimir Putin annexed the Ukrainian region.

A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Cameron and German leader Angela Merkel last night agreed that further action was needed. But splits are thought to persist over the severity of new sanctions.

The spokesman from No 10 said: “The Prime Minister looks forward to the signing in Brussels on Friday of the political provisions of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine.

“A strong and successful Ukraine is in all our interests and will show that efforts to undermine the country’s independence and stability will not succeed.”

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement seeks to promote “independence, sovereignty [and] territorial integrity” as well as “to deepen co-operation... in the field of security and defence”.

It talks of taking “full and timely advantage of all diplomatic and military channels” and seeks regular meetings of military “experts” and “military-technological cooperation”. It goes on: “Ukraine and the European Defence Agency shall establish close contacts to discuss military capability improvement”.

German government spokesman Stefan Seibert called the agreement a “significant signal to support Ukraine”, while Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov urged leaders to secure the deal.

European foreign ministers have already imposed sanctions against 21 Russian and Ukrainian officials linked to the crisis.

They are expected to continue “building on” existing measures but tougher sanctions are thought to be opposed by Germany.

Yesterday the commander of Ukraine’s navy was freed after being held by Russian forces and local Crimean militia at his headquarters.

Rear Admiral Sergei Haiduk was held for hours after his base in Sevastopol was stormed yesterday.

Early reports said a local Ukrainian “self defence” force undertook the act but President Turchynov claimed Russian forces were involved.

Ukraine also ordered troops to withdraw generally from Crimea yesterday. However, the country sought to tighten security at nuclear facilities and other strategic sites amid fears of “subversive actions”, officials said.

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