Ukraine signed a security agreement with Croatia: details and text of the document

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković signed an agreement on long-term cooperation and support between the two countries. With this agreement, Croatia reaffirms its commitment to support Ukraine until the war is won.

The signing ceremony took place in Dubrovnik on Wednesday, October 9, the President's Office reported. Since the beginning of the full-scale war in February 2022, Croatia has provided about €300 million in aid to Ukraine, including 11 defense packages.

The new document enshrines Croatia's commitment to support Ukraine until the war is completely won.

The agreement covers numerous aspects, such as defense cooperation, which involves joint production of weapons and localization of projects in Ukraine. In addition, the countries plan to strengthen cooperation in digital security and intelligence sharing. Croatia is also ready to assist in humanitarian demining, having already allocated more than €10 million for this purpose, and will share its experience in mine action and support for veterans.

Another important topic of the agreement is to hold Russia accountable for the damage caused and to maintain sanctions pressure on the aggressor. Croatia is also ready to assist Ukraine on its way to the European Union and NATO, continuing efforts to implement the Peace Formula.

In addition, the document emphasizes that Croatia supports Ukraine on its path to the EU and NATO and pledges to continue its efforts to implement the Peace Formula.

Full text of the Agreement on Long-term Cooperation and Support between Ukraine and the Republic of Croatia

I. Preamble

Ukraine and the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as the "Participants" or "Ukraine and Croatia") are united in their commitment to common values, including human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law.

They share the interests of peace, security, stability, and prosperity and strongly support a rules-based international order.

Thus, Ukraine and Croatia once again condemn in the strongest terms Russia's unprovoked, unjustified, and illegal full-scale aggressive war against Ukraine and its temporary occupation of Ukraine's territory in violation of international law, including the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris.

Following the Declaration on Ukraine adopted by the Croatian Parliament on February 25, 2022, Croatia strongly condemns Russia's unprovoked aggression against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine. Croatia remains unwavering in its commitment to support Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters, as well as Ukraine's inherent right to self-defense against Russian aggression following Article 51 of the UN Charter, and Ukraine's aspirations for a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace.

Croatia's solidarity with Ukraine is deeply rooted, in particular, because both Parties fully realize the true national meaning and importance of defense against wars of aggression for territorial gains and conquest.

In this regard, Croatia is uniquely positioned to assist Ukraine due to its own war-related experience, particularly in the areas of mine action, veteran care, and the prosecution of serious crimes.

In line with the above-mentioned shared values, Ukraine and Croatia remain firmly committed to long-term cooperation and support. Croatia has been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014 and will continue to do so until Ukraine wins.

Since February 2022, Croatia has provided Ukraine with economic, financial, humanitarian, and other assistance worth about 300 million euros. This includes 11 military aid packages. Croatia will continue to assist Ukraine following the requirements of national legislation and the Constitution.

The participants reaffirm that they will further strengthen their cooperation by fulfilling bilateral and long-term commitments in several areas, including political, economic, and financial; security and cooperation; humanitarian; energy, reconstruction, recovery, and development; legal, in particular, to ensure accountability for serious crimes committed during the Russian aggression; science; technology; culture; sports; youth and other areas.

This will contribute to Ukraine's efforts to defend itself, resist destabilization attempts, deter future acts of aggression, restore its economy, protect its citizens, and accelerate, in particular, its integration and accession to the EU and NATO.

II. Political, economic, and security cooperation and support for Ukraine

Croatia will continue to provide long-term political, security, and financial support to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity against Russian aggression. Ukraine, for its part, remains firmly committed to implementing public administration reforms, including reforms on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

Ukraine's future lies in the European family of nations. Ukraine's security is an integral part of European, Euro-Atlantic and global security. Therefore, Ukraine has the right to choose its own foreign and security policy path, as well as its own security mechanism, including within NATO.

The participants will deepen security cooperation within bilateral and multilateral mechanisms by exchanging intelligence on issues of mutual interest.

Croatia's commitments to Ukraine are intended to complement the contributions of partners, including the EU, NATO, and their member states, following the requirements of national legislation and the Constitution. Croatia's commitments also fully reflect the Joint Security Commitments between Ukraine and the European Union signed on June 27, 2024, which Croatia strongly supports.

The participants will cooperate and with international partners to ensure Ukraine's capacity and resilience to defend and deter any possible future aggression. Croatia will continue to provide military assistance, building on the 11 military assistance packages already approved since the beginning of Russia's aggression.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the Participants will, as appropriate and by mutual agreement, hold a Strategic Dialogue on Defense and Security Policy at the level of senior officials.

Recognizing the importance and urgency of continued military assistance to Ukraine, Croatia will explore opportunities for further assistance, including through coalitions within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

To increase defense preparedness, the participants will encourage cooperation between their defense industries, taking into account their military experience. Ukraine's defense industry can become a powerful asset for both Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security. To this end, participants will identify prospects for joint defense production, including opportunities for joint projects with localization in Ukraine, to promote common economic interests and strengthen strategic ties.

Participants will explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of digital resilience and cybersecurity to help Ukraine detect and counter malicious cyber activity by Russia and any other state or non-state actors in accordance with international law.

Ukraine and Croatia will exchange intelligence, practices, and lessons learned in order to develop their cybersecurity and cyber defense capabilities, as well as to enhance Ukraine's cyber resilience and protect its critical infrastructure, in particular through the exchange of technical assistance.

Participants will cooperate in countering foreign information manipulation and interference, including Russian or any other state information manipulation, malicious propaganda, and disinformation campaigns that affect national security, through the regular exchange of experience and best practices in countering such threats, strategic communication, and public diplomacy.

The participants reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine's European aspirations, in particular to Ukraine's full membership in the European Union. Ukraine's future lies in the EU. In this regard, the Participants warmly welcome the decision of the European Council in December 2023 to launch negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU and to convene the first Intergovernmental Conference in June 2024.

Participants reaffirm their commitment to work together on Ukraine's integration into the EU with the ultimate common goal of Ukraine's membership in the European Union in line with the Joint Declaration on Ukraine's European perspective signed in Kyiv on December 8, 2021, by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenković.

Croatia will continue to support Ukraine on this path on a bilateral basis, sharing its experience and know-how gained during its accession. At the same time, Croatia will continue to support Ukraine within the EU, cooperating with the EU and its member states to assist Ukraine in its reforms and on its accession path.

Participants emphasize the merit-based nature of the EU accession process. Croatia commends the successful reform process undertaken by Ukraine so far and recognizes Ukraine's efforts to implement the necessary reforms despite the extremely difficult circumstances of defending itself from armed invasion.

Croatia remains committed to supporting Ukraine both bilaterally and through the EU and the Ukraine Facility program to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, as well as modernization reforms in line with its EU accession path.

Croatia will continue to strongly support the EU's efforts to ensure the immediate and long-term security and resilience of Ukraine, in particular through predictable, effective, and sustainable military and civilian assistance, inter alia through the European Peace Fund and the EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform in Ukraine; humanitarian, financial, trade and economic support; accommodation of displaced persons; support for reforms, recovery and reconstruction; as well as restrictive measures, support for accountability mechanisms, diplomacy, and diplomatic missions.

Croatia will also continue to support the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Agenda as one of the important pillars of the Ukrainian economy and as a key to global food security.

Given the importance of Ukrainian grain for global food security, as well as the importance of grain exports for the Ukrainian economy, Croatia will explore opportunities to support the humanitarian food program Grain from Ukraine to provide grain to those countries facing acute food shortages.

Participants recognize the value of sanctions in restricting the access of the Russian Federation and other aggressor states to finance, goods, technology, and services used in their aggression and in deterring future attacks.

Participants emphasize the importance of constant readiness to maintain and introduce new restrictive measures to increase pressure on Russia, as well as the full and effective implementation of existing sanctions. Croatia fully implements the existing EU sanctions regimes against Russia, Belarus, and all other actors undermining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Participants will continue to work to ensure that the costs of Russia's aggression continue to rise, including through sanctions and export controls. Croatia will also continue to work with partners to combat all forms of sanctions circumvention.

Participants will provide each other with updated relevant information on the grounds for sanctions and other necessary information following commitments and national legislation.

Participants sincerely welcome and strongly support the fact that the NATO Summit in Washington in July 2024 reaffirmed the view that Ukraine's future lies in NATO. Croatia, as a NATO Ally, will continue to support Ukraine's irreversible path to full NATO membership, including through enhanced defense and military interoperability between NATO and Ukraine and an ever-closer political alliance. Given its national contribution to NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, Croatia will continue to support Ukraine through NATO's financial commitment to Ukraine's long-term security assistance.

Participants fully support the outcome of the Peace Summit for Ukraine held in Switzerland in June 2024. The path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine can only be based on international law, including the UN Charter, and full respect for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Russia must cease, and in the future refrain from, the use or threat of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.

Croatia pledges to continue its diplomatic efforts both bilaterally with third countries and in multilateral forums to promote the implementation of the Ukrainian peace formula and its principles and will continue to work on the points of the Ukrainian peace formula, in particular at the level of national security and foreign policy advisers, ambassadors to Ukraine and relevant experts.

Participants reaffirm that achieving peace requires the engagement and dialogue of all parties. In this context, Croatia's successful peaceful reintegration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Syrmia can serve as a valuable model for learning from. Croatia is ready to continue sharing its experience with Ukraine in this area.

The participants reaffirm the results of the first parliamentary summit of the International Crimean Platform held in Zagreb in October.

2022, as well as the goals of the third "Ukraine – Southeast Europe" Summit in Dubrovnik in October 2024. Croatia remains firmly committed to continuing to support Ukraine in these and all other regional and international political and diplomatic forums, events, and efforts.

Croatia has joined the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and will continue to support vulnerable Ukrainian children through rehabilitation programs and mine safety education programs.

III. Cooperation and support for Ukraine in the humanitarian, energy, development, legal, scientific, and other fields

Croatia reaffirms its commitment to maintain its support in the areas of humanitarian assistance; energy, recovery, reconstruction and development; legal, including accountability; science, technology, youth, and other areas of support and cooperation with Ukraine. Croatia's support will remain unwavering, sustained, and long-term.

As a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, Croatia continues to provide emergency and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. As of today, more than 28 thousand citizens from Ukraine who fled Russian aggression have applied for temporary protection and have been accepted by Croatia since February 2022. Croatia has also provided and will continue to provide rehabilitation to Ukrainian victims of Russian aggression, including the most vulnerable groups of veterans and children affected by the war.

Based on its experience of the Patriotic War, Croatia is fully aware that humanitarian demining is an important prerequisite for the overall socio-economic recovery of war-affected areas. With this in mind, the Participants recall with deep appreciation and reaffirm the outcome of the International Donor Conference on Humanitarian Mine Action in Ukraine, held in Zagreb in October 2023. During the event, 34 participating States expressed clear political support for mine action in Ukraine in the amount of almost half a billion euros in pledged funds, including an additional 5 million euros from Croatia. This financial contribution is a continuation of previous forms of assistance from Croatia in the field of demining. In total, Croatia's financial support for demining in Ukraine currently exceeds EUR 10 million. Croatia will continue to provide equipment, share knowledge, exchange experience, train and financially support demining in Ukraine.

Participants strongly condemn Russia's widespread, systematic, and deliberate armed attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure. Ukraine's power plants and energy grid continue to suffer enormous destruction as a result of these brutal Russian attacks. In this regard, Croatia will continue to provide technical and financial assistance to Ukraine to restore and strengthen its energy infrastructure.

Following up on successful projects implemented so far, such as the reconstruction of a kindergarten in Hostomel, Croatia will continue to provide assistance in the restoration of important social infrastructure.

Croatia will continue to assist Ukraine in reconstruction and recovery by sharing its experience, know-how, and capabilities. The Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development is ready to consider participating in the EU's Ukraine Facility program, given its role and the interest of Croatian entrepreneurs. As an OECD candidate country, Croatia warmly welcomes the fact that the OECD has recognized Ukraine as a potential OECD member in 2022 and the opening of an OECD office in Kyiv in 2023. Croatia also strongly supports the establishment of the OECD Program for Ukraine, for which Croatia has made a voluntary contribution of EUR 250 thousand.

Participants reaffirmed that the fight against impunity has no alternative, as there can be no lasting peace in Ukraine without justice and accountability. Participants will strive to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes and other international crimes committed in Ukraine or against Ukraine in the context of Russia's aggressive war, following international law. Participants will continue to support the work of the Office of the Prosecutor General (Ukraine) and the International Criminal Court to ensure full and fair investigations of alleged international crimes through an independent, effective, and credible legal mechanism.

Croatia will continue to actively participate in the Coalition to Explore Options for the Establishment of a Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, as well as in the Advisory Group on the Most Serious International Crimes. Croatia will continue to regularly share its experience in prosecuting war crimes with Ukraine, in particular through seminars on the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration, and Digital Transformation of the Republic of Croatia, signed in Kyiv on September 11, 2024, will further strengthen cooperation in this area.

The participants reaffirm their commitment to hold the Russian Federation accountable for the losses, damages, and injury to persons and entities, as well as to Ukraine, caused by its internationally wrongful acts in or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the UN Charter, which will also help deter further attacks and contribute to the recovery of Ukraine.

Croatia, in cooperation with its partners, will continue to explore all legal avenues, consistent with existing treaty obligations, EU law, and international law, through which Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine.

As a matter of priority, the Participants will continue to cooperate with the G7 states and other partners to establish a compensation mechanism to ensure compensation for losses, damages, and injury caused by the Russian aggression, as provided for in the Statute of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, adopted by Resolution CM/Res(2023)3 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In this regard, the Participants will explore appropriate options for financing a compensation mechanism to provide prompt and adequate compensation to victims of aggression.

The Participants undertake to support and strengthen cooperation in the field of science and technology, in particular through the Program of Cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia in the field of science and technology, signed in Kyiv on September 11, 2024.

An empowered and educated youth plays a crucial role in Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, especially in strengthening democratic values, promoting entrepreneurship, and accelerating Ukraine's long-term prosperity.

Participants reaffirm the continued importance of engagement with civil society. This includes, but is not limited to, the social rehabilitation of Ukrainian war veterans; the training of Ukrainian children in mine safety; and the transfer of mine safety knowledge and expertise to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

More than 500 Ukrainian children from war-affected regions have already spent their summer and winter vacations in Croatia and gained valuable mine safety knowledge. This work will continue.

Croatia remains steadfast in maintaining and, if necessary and as decided by the Participants, enhancing its political, economic, security, humanitarian, and other assistance and support to Ukraine in the future.

IV. Final provisions

This Agreement is an international instrument that does not require ratification by the national parliaments of the Participants.

The Participants will implement this Agreement in accordance with the national legislation of the Participants, budgetary allocations, and international legal obligations, in particular, the obligations of Croatia as an EU member state.

The Parties shall, if necessary, designate authorized bodies for the development and implementation of bilateral agreements following the areas of cooperation set forth in this Agreement.

This Agreement is valid for 10 years from the date of its signing.

If Ukraine becomes a NATO member before the expiration of this Agreement, the Participants will decide on its future status.

The authorized bodies of the Participants may conclude executive and technical arrangements in specific areas of cooperation within the framework of this Agreement or in addition to this Agreement.

The Working Group on Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Croatia, established in 2016, remains the main institutional framework for the development of bilateral relations between the Parties.

This structure will continue to be used to transfer Croatia's expertise and experience in post-conflict transition and rehabilitation, including mine action, transfer of knowledge, and experience gained in the EU accession process, and will be used to strengthen economic, cultural, and scientific ties.

This Agreement may be terminated by either Participant at any time by written notice to the other Participant. This Agreement shall terminate six months from the date of receipt of such notice. Termination shall not affect the implementation of ongoing activities or projects decided upon before the date of termination unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.

This Agreement may be amended and supplemented, including by adding annexes thereto, by mutual written consent of the Parties.

Any disputes regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be settled amicably or through negotiations between the Parties.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing.

Signed in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on October 9, 2024, in the Ukrainian, Croatian and English languages. In the event of any discrepancies in interpretation, the English version shall prevail.

To Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President

For the Republic of Croatia: Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister

As a reminder, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived on an official visit to Croatia on October 9. He held a conversation with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, discussing defense cooperation, rehabilitation of wounded defenders, and the reconstruction of Ukraine. The visit also includes meetings with representatives of other countries in the region.

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