Thu. Sep 19th, 2024

Stockholm, 24 August 2022

President Zelenskyy, Excellencies, colleagues and friends,

In August last year, we came together in Kyiv to show our unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in light of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol in 2014.

Since then, Russia has launched an unprovoked, illegal and ruthless full-scale war of aggression. This has made an already dire situation in Crimea even more alarming. For instance, Russia uses the peninsula as a launching pad for attacking other parts of Ukraine.

Sweden is deeply concerned by the countless violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed by the Russian authorities in the Crimean Peninsula and elsewhere on temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory. I was shaken by what I saw and heard during my field visits to Bucha and Borodyanka in July.

Russia’s aggression is primarily about Ukraine. It also has alarming consequences elsewhere, in Europe and globally, including as regards energy and food supplies. For this, Russia bears full responsibility.

Sweden DOES not and WILL not recognise Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, or any other future attempts to unlawfully annex Ukrainian territory. We must continue to stand united in our support for Ukraine, now and in the long term. We must ensure that the international community continues a coordinated and principled response to stop Russia’s aggression and hold those responsible accountable.

We owe it to Ukraine and its people, and we need it to prevent similar aggression from being repeated elsewhere. Might does not make right.

Sweden will continue its steadfast support to Ukraine. My government will shortly present additional comprehensive support packages that will strengthen Ukraine’s resilience. The stronger Ukraine is, the safer the rest of us are.

Thank you. Slava Ukraini.

Source – Swedish Government

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