Bilateral security deal between Ukraine, EU "almost finalized" - EU source

That’s according to a high-ranking source in the EU, who spoke with an Ukrinform correspondent ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

It is expected that the ministers will discuss security commitments, which have almost been finalized, and that they will be signed by the EU and Ukraine by the end of the month. Ukraine has already agreed to similar agreements with several members of the European Union, said the EU official.

Answering a clarifying question, he noted that the security agreement between Ukraine and the EU could be signed on June 26.

According to the source, next Monday European government officials will start discussing the Ukraine issue through informal communication with Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, who will join the discussion via videoconference. The Ukrainian minister will brief European partners on the situation in the country and about the country's primary needs in repelling Russian aggression.

"The situation on the battlefield remains difficult, so the supply of weapons to Ukraine remains our key priority," the EU official added.

According to the source, EU foreign countries will exchange views on the outcome of the Peace Summit, held in Switzerland last week.

"It was a success. More than 100 countries and international organizations participated to present their views. This was the task of the summit – to demonstrate that Ukraine and the majority of the international community support a decision based on international law and the UN Charter. This may be the only way to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine, which is very clearly laid down in the final communique. It was a good opportunity to start future processes, which will likely involve Russia," said the high-ranking European official.

At the same time, the source recalled that on the eve of the Peace Summit, Putin put forward his demands – to have Ukrainian troops withdrawn from the territories of Ukraine that were not even occupied by Russian invaders, to renounce sovereignty, and carry out "de-Nazification" in Ukraine.

"It is obvious that he (Putin) does not want peace, he wants the war to continue, preparing for it. Its first condition is the demand that Ukraine withdraw from Ukraine. It could be taken as a bad joke if it wasn't so serious. We expect that the 14th package of sanctions will be approved on Monday," said the EU representative.

As reported earlier, the Council of EU Foreign Ministers will be held in Luxembourg on Monday to consider the extension of aid to Ukraine. In addition, foreign ministers will exchange views on the developments in the Middle East, EU relations with the Western Balkans, the events in Georgia and the African Great Lakes region.