Sweden is One of Ukraine's Largest Donors and Will Continue to Support Ukraine
This was stated by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristensen
The Gaze reports on according to Ukrinform .
‘We have been helping Ukraine from the very beginning. More than €10 billion in military and civilian support since the start of Russian aggression makes Sweden one of the world's largest providers of military aid, ranking sixth in the world in absolute terms,’ Kristenson said.
He noted that funds for Ukraine will run out, and many good initiatives in various geographical formats will simply not get off the ground unless partners agree on a reliable and long-term financial framework. Sweden, said its leader, continues to promote the idea of Ukraine's membership in the European Union and is working hard to achieve a positive decision on frozen Russian assets at the next European Council meeting in December.
"If we really mean what we say — that Ukraine is fighting not only for itself but also for us, that it is waging a war that any democracy may be forced to wage — then we need to act more decisively. We really need to put into practice what we talk about at meetings. And I will still say that there is room for improvement in this area," the politician stated.
He noted that Putin's ambition was clearly aimed at dividing Europe, but so far he has failed.
‘European democracies have been supporting Ukraine for almost four years and will continue to do so. For Europe, strengthening this support is one of the most responsible tasks of our generation,’ the politician stressed. He stressed that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine had destroyed peace and stability in our part of the world, but also had enormous geopolitical consequences for the international order that had ensured Europe's prosperity and security for many years after the Second World War. The head of government noted that it is still unknown when this brutal war will end, but it is clear that how it ends will determine security for decades to come. ‘That is why we must support Ukraine and strengthen our own resilience and mobilise all the capabilities at our disposal, whether military, economic, technological, innovative or diplomatic,’ the prime minister said.
He stressed the need for a ‘real sense of urgency’ to intensify this work. Security does not come for free, and many countries have long known this, especially those bordering Russia, Kristenson noted. He said his country is rapidly building up its armed forces in all areas and has already doubled its military investment over the past four years and will continue to double it. The country is investing in new fighter jets, submarines, new cyber defence infrastructure and other advanced technologies. The Prime Minister noted that Swedish experts have learned a lot from Ukraine's tragic combat experience, especially regarding drones and methods of countering them.
Sweden has decided to increase defence spending to NATO's target of 5% by 2030, the politician said, adding that all political parties unanimously support this internal goal, and six out of eight parties were united in supporting Sweden's accession to NATO last year. Last year, the country reinstated conscription and civil service for both young men and women, Kristenson said, adding that he was proud to see his two youngest daughters complete their military service.
As the Gaze reported earlier Sweden Gains Valuable Battlefield Insights from Ukraine on Its Weapons Systems