The talks on a security partnership between Germany and Ukraine are making progress, according to Andrii Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office.

On Wednesday, Mr Yermak wrote on the Telegram social media platform that he had held a telephone call with Jens Plötner, the German chancellor’s adviser for foreign and security policy.

He said he was updated on the progress made by the negotiating teams.

Ukrainian media had previously reported that an agreement would likely be signed in February.

Ukraine had been looking for international security partners since the launch of Russia’s invasion almost two years ago.

The government in Kyiv said joining NATO remained a priority, but it acknowledged that it would probably not be realisable until after the end of the war.

At its most recent summit in Vilnius, NATO decided that its members should enter into a network of bilateral security agreements with Ukraine as long as the country is not a member of the alliance.

Britain had already taken this step. 

(dpa/NAN)