Speeches

Ukraine has already shown, across many types of weapons and especially in drones, that we can move fast and produce modern systems at scale. So I ask for your support at the political level to help achieve positive decisions on these licenses as well.

In every such strike there is – perhaps not always conscious, but still real – complicity of those who work for Russia, who supply Russia with money, who help it bypass sanctions and find not just one or two, but thousands of components without which Russian military production would simply come to a halt. Five Kalibr missiles contain 145 such components. Thirty-three Iskander missiles contain 1,122 components.

Our warriors now have the capability to reach Russian military logistics across virtually the entire depth of the temporarily occupied territory. There are practically no safe roads left for the occupier in the south and east of our state.

It is important that we remain alert today as well, to every threat and every air raid warning. Intelligence indicating the possibility of a massive strike remains valid.

Our services act fast and are fully prepared. The Air Force and other defenders of our skies will be working around the clock, as always. Air defense and the continued need to help Ukraine protect its skies are our key priorities. I am grateful to every partner, every leader, and every country that is ready to help and that implements our arrangements in full.

We began this discussion earlier, and last year, at the end of last year, the relevant decisions were taken. In my view, those were also important, historic decisions, but we started this process. We reached an agreement in December. And today, we already have a decision on combat aviation. Swedish fighter jets that will definitely strengthen our air fleet and our air defense.

We understand that much of the world’s attention is currently focused on the war in Iran. But the war here in Europe must also be brought to an end – a very bloody war that is already in its fifth year at full scale. And the sooner we are able to provide greater protection against ballistic threats, the sooner we will be able to make diplomacy work.

For us, it has always been very important what societies think – what societies think about what is happening, and whether ordinary people feel, in a broad sense, what we are fighting for; whether they feel what we are fighting for here, in Ukraine, and what would threaten others if Ukraine had not held out.

We are working with all our partners on air defense for Ukraine – clearly, this is the first priority.