The agreement with the EU lays out the bloc’s commitment to helping Ukraine in nine areas of security and defence policy – including arms deliveries, military training, defence industry cooperation, and demining, according to a draft seen by Reuters.

The pact – along with the documents signed with Lithuania and Estonia – is intended to complement other similar agreements sealed between Ukraine and its allies as it continues its defence against Russia’s invasion.

Countries including the US, the UK, France, and Germany have sealed such pacts with Kyiv.

Officials say the agreements are not the same as the mutual defence pact between Nato nations, but are pledges to provide Ukraine with weapons and other aid to bolster its own security and deter any future invasion.