Speeches

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.

It is critically important to continue working to secure air defense for Ukraine, especially anti-ballistic capabilities. Having Russia next door is a constant threat, and our people in Ukraine will hold that threat back and are stopping it. But the world should clearly see who it is dealing with. This is the fifth year of the full-scale war, and from its very first seconds, it has been Russia’s unprovoked, terrorist war against life.

It is only right that Russia is losing oil export revenues. It was precisely oil and gas that made Russia so arrogant that it now allows itself to wage war in the modern world and continue to threaten all others. All forms of sanctions against Russia and its accomplices must continue to function.

I am grateful to all our Airborne Assault Forces and our assault troops. I am grateful to all units that are effectively repelling Russian assaults. I also thank everyone who supports our army and our Security Forces.

There were many questions from communities bordering Belarus. And, of course, air defense must be strengthened very significantly – exactly as people said. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine knows this priority – there must be an allocation of additional equipment, and there will be. We have this capability. I expect a report on the results.