Ukraine is going to sign a security pact with the European Union, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday.

Zelensky said the agreement was an important step towards Ukraine’s “historic goal of peace and prosperity” in the EU in a post on X, ahead of his arrival to an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels.

The agreement between the EU and Ukraine was drawn up after months of talks among the 27 EU member states to hammer out the pact to support the country’s long-term support.

The security agreement will “enshrine the commitment of all 27 Member States to provide Ukraine with extensive support, regardless of any internal institutional changes,” according to Zelenksy.

Celebrating again the start of Ukraine’s membership negotiations to join the EU, Zelensky said he would meet EU leaders to thank them for “affirming the irreversibility of our European course.”

Existing EU initiatives like training Ukrainian soldiers are expected to be set out again in the pact, as well as long-term commitments to supply Ukraine with artillery and air defence systems to help Kiev against the full-scale Russian invasion.

The accord with the EU is an important symbol of solidarity with Ukraine.

It follows the official start on Tuesday of negotiations for Ukraine to eventually join the bloc.

EU membership is a powerful motivator for Ukraine in their fight to defeat the Russian invasion of their country. Kiev also wants to join NATO in the future.