Dear everyone present, Ulf, team, and ministers!
Dear Sweden!
Today, we are opening an entirely new and truly meaningful chapter in our relations between Ukraine and Sweden. And more broadly, this also concerns overall security relations in Europe. Today, we have the first document signed between our countries, paving the way for Ukraine to acquire a substantial, very substantial fleet of Swedish-made fighter jets – Gripens. And yes, these are great aircraft, strong aviation platforms capable of performing a wide range of missions. Everyone can see what threats they help counter. Russian strikes against our state – they do not stop. Last night, the Russians carried out yet another massive strike against our energy infrastructure, against our cities. Tragically, there have been casualties, including two children, the youngest of whom was less than one year old. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Just in this one night alone, dozens of people were wounded by Russian missile and drone strikes. In many regions, sadly, electricity supply is currently limited. In the city of Kharkiv, Russian drones struck a kindergarten. Along the line of contact with Russian troops – in our frontline and border communities – every day, hundreds of Russian guided bombs are dropped, and the Russians can strike only because they currently hold superiority in combat aviation against us. That is why our defense strategy is a multi-layered approach based on a range of elements: from air defense systems, such as Patriots, NASAMS, and others, to combat aviation. Sweden is helping us a lot in this regard, and today, as the Prime Minister said, we have launched efforts to bring Gripens to Ukraine. We expect that the future contract will enable us to receive at least 100 of these jets. We have a clear understanding of the financial framework required to implement this contract, and we discussed it with the Prime Minister and the leadership of Saab. I am grateful to Sweden for its readiness to collaborate on this. We also thank Saab, which produces the Gripens and at whose facility we held today’s discussions. It is an honor for us. Next year, we must do everything necessary to achieve the initial results – finalizing the procedures in the near future. Procedures always take time, but nonetheless, we must do everything to give full substance to our framework agreement. Ukraine has already proven that it can carry out such tasks quite efficiently: training pilots, preparing technical teams, and readying infrastructure. And now our teams must ensure that the coming year becomes the time for the more concrete implementation of our agreement, the beginning of Gripen deployment.
Of course, we have also discussed other key issues today. On the energy sector: I outlined our main needs after the Russian strikes. We discussed recovery prospects and the search for additional funding sources, in particular, to ensure sufficient gas supplies for this winter. The Russians are deliberately destroying our extraction, and that is why imports are critical for us right now.
We also coordinated our positions ahead of the meetings in Brussels and London – the European Council and the Coalition of the Willing. I informed Ulf about our communications with the United States and other partners. The fact is, Russia responds only to strength – the strength of pressure – and that is why we included long-range capabilities, specifically Tomahawks, on the agenda with our partners. Once Russia heard a convincing enough message about the Tomahawks, Putin immediately rushed back to diplomacy. Now, Russia’s willingness for diplomacy has somewhat faded, and our long-range capabilities can bring Russia to the table in a way that can truly end this war.
We also discussed the air defense situation. I thank every partner who has already joined the PURL initiative, which allows us to purchase American weapons, including – and this is a priority – missiles for Patriots. Sweden has already joined the program, and I thank you for that.
Another important area – for us and for Europe’s security in general – is sanctions. We are counting on the adoption of the 19th EU sanctions package, and it truly must no longer be postponed. Among the measures that will really affect the situation is also fuller use of Russian assets to defend against Russian aggression. We are preparing the relevant decisions. This is very difficult, and we rely greatly on Europe’s unity, solidarity, and support.
Ukraine never wanted this war – everyone knows it – the war that Russia started against us, and only Russia. Every day, Russians take the lives of our people, and every day they destroy our cities. And they came to our land. And it is absolutely fair that we seek and obtain the necessary means of defense – the necessary weapons, the support we need, the instruments required to pressure the aggressor. I thank everyone who is helping us! Thank you, Ulf, personally! And many thanks to your wonderful country, which has helped Ukraine so much. And I am certain it will forever be enshrined in the history of independent Ukraine. Thank you!
Glory to Ukraine!
