Ukraine and Benelux create a new alliance: what it means for security.

According to FREEДOM:

New format of cooperation Ukraine - Benelux

Kyiv has announced the launch of a new format of cooperation with Benelux, which includes Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This news was announced on August 26 during the visit of foreign representatives to Odessa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that the main goal of the new format is to strengthen ties between Kyiv and European countries.

In Odessa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha held multilateral negotiations with the foreign ministers of Belgium, Maxime Prevo, Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, and the Director-General for European Affairs of the Netherlands Foreign Affairs Ministry, Helen Bakker.

Sybiha emphasized that this format of cooperation symbolizes Ukraine's belonging to Europe and confirms the unity of the continent.

'The Ukraine - Benelux format will deepen our partnership with each of the three countries and take our cooperation to a fundamentally new level. It is important that the security guarantees we are discussing have a legally binding nature. This is fundamentally essential, for us it will be a contribution to the future security architecture not only in Europe, as the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific region are interlinked,' said the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also expressed gratitude to the Benelux countries for their political, humanitarian, and military assistance, as well as for supporting Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO.

'When the ceasefire comes, we are ready to be part of international forces, having an international mandate - this is very important. But before discussing this, we need to talk to our Minister of Defense about what kind of defense support we can provide. But we are definitely ready to engage in such a peacekeeping mission when it becomes necessary,' assured the head of the Belgium Foreign Ministry, Maxime Prevo.

Additionally, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg will allocate 2 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support the prosthetics center of Odessa Medical University.

The establishment of a cooperation format with Benelux can become an important step in improving Ukraine's relations with key European partners. In the context of war and security challenges, this initiative will contribute to strengthening political and economic support, as well as humanitarian aid, particularly in the field of medical supply.