Ukraine Becomes First Non-Member to Join UK-Led Joint Expeditionary Force

Ukraine has officially been granted Enhanced Partnership status with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). This status was formalized through the signing of a memorandum by the defense ministers of the JEF member nations.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed the status acquisition via Telegram on November 5, noting that Ukraine is the first non-member state to receive this level of partnership within the alliance, establishing a significant precedent.

Shmyhal expressed his gratitude to Norwegian Minister of Defense Tore Sandvik and UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey for the invitation, underscoring that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s initiative resulted in Ukraine’s first representation at a JEF defense ministers' meeting.

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War in Ukraine

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The Joint Expeditionary Force is a coalition formed by the United Kingdom in 2015, which includes nine other Northern European nations: Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway.

“Ukraine is capable of strengthening the JEF. We will share knowledge in the fields of countering hybrid aggression, the use of air defense forces, the use of drones, the protection of national infrastructure, and conducting long-range strikes,” Shmyhal stated.

Defense Minister also announced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces would participate in joint exercises. The goal of this participation is to achieve full interoperability and readiness for combined action in crisis situations.

“Ukraine is ready to continue contributing to the achievement of these goals—through joint exercises, innovative partnerships, and cooperation in the defense industry sector. In turn, Ukraine expects partners to provide access to European technologies and production capacities, on the basis of which joint production can be established,” Shmyhal added.

Earlier, Ukraine formally implemented the 19th package of sanctions imposed by the European Union against the Russian Federation. This action serves to intensify restrictive measures in response to the ongoing military aggression.

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