Sweden calls support for Ukraine top foreign policy priority
Photo: Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (Getty Images)
Supporting Ukraine is a top foreign policy priority for the Swedish government. Sweden will also support security cooperation, gender equality, and women's empowerment, says Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
“This year's foreign policy declaration is presented at a difficult time in terms of security policy. We - Sweden, the EU, and NATO - are in a long-term and far-reaching confrontation with Russia. Russia will continue to pose a serious threat to security in Europe, regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine. Our task is unavoidable: we must confront Russia's ability to harm us, not least by supporting Ukraine,” Stenergard said.
The statement notes that support for Ukraine is the main foreign policy objective of the government. In particular, Sweden is increasing its support for Ukraine, and the total amount of support since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion is about 70 billion Swedish kronor.
“For Sweden, support for Ukraine is not only a moral obligation but also an investment in the security, independence, and freedom of Europe and our own,” Stenergard said.
She also emphasized that Sweden will continue to build security together with others, especially as a member of the EU and NATO.
Sweden's assistance to Ukraine
At the end of January, it became known that Sweden would provide Ukraine with the largest military aid package. It is worth SEK 13.5 billion (about $1.25 billion).
This aid package is intended to strengthen Ukraine's long-range capabilities.
And last summer, Sweden joined the cooperation on unmanned aerial vehicles for Ukraine, better known as the International Drone Coalition.
