First in 18 years: Sweden's King makes surprise visit to Ukraine
Photo: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (Getty Images)
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden arrived in Ukraine on Friday, April 17, for a visit. In Lviv, he has already met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to Dagens Nyheter and Ukraine's President.
The Swedish monarch's visit is seen as a gesture by the royal family to express support for Ukraine amid Russia's ongoing aggression.
In Lviv, the King has already held talks with Zelenskyy.
"King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf began his visit to Ukraine by paying tribute together with me to our fallen warriors. We are deeply grateful for this respect," the President said.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden began his visit to Ukraine by honoring our fallen warriors together with me. We are deeply grateful for this gesture of respect.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 17, 2026
The memory of each and every one of them is very important to us – the defenders of Ukraine who fought against Russian… pic.twitter.com/Wl9bMhkckS
This marks the monarch's first visit to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The 80-year-old king was accompanied by a delegation led by Sweden's foreign minister.
Carl XVI Gustaf last visited Ukraine in 2008, together with Queen Silvia.
Sweden's support for Ukraine
As previously reported, Ukraine is set to receive advanced Tridon Mk2 air defense systems from Sweden, which will help counter Shahed drones and other aerial threats.
In March, Sweden's embassy in Ukraine announced a new government decision to allocate €56 million to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. The funds are intended to restore damaged infrastructure and strengthen the resilience of the country’s energy system.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has also confirmed the country's intention to join an agreement on establishing a special tribunal over Russia's crime of aggression against Ukraine.
