Russia systematically uses chemical weapons on the battlefield. Since the begining of a full-scale war, 626 such cases have been recorded (51 already in 2024). In addition to tear gas, the Russians use deadly chemicals such as lewisite.
Lewisite poisoning leads to failure of internal organs and cardiac arrest — this substance penetrates even through a gas mask. It is prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention. However, the Russians built a lewisite processing plant in Udmurtia. Crimes committed by a terrorist state are the best argument in favor of providing Ukraine with effective security guarantees
On January 12, a security agreement was signed in Kyiv between Ukraine and Great Britain. It contains specific options for economic and military support that London will provide to Kyiv over a long period. It includes defense and military cooperation, protection of critical infrastructure, information and cybersecurity. In addition, in 2024, Britain will provide Ukraine with an additional 2.5 billion pounds of financial support. The United Kingdom was the first among Ukraine’s allies to sign such a document. These are real security guarantees for Ukraine in terms of quality.
This agreement is a model for other Western countries that have promised security guarantees for Ukraine — relevant negotiations are already underway. No one in Europe has any doubts about the threat posed by Russia. Therefore, the signing of similar agreements with Ukraine is a key element of the new security architecture in Europe.