Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist has received Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, and the two ministers signed a new agreement on defence cooperation between the countries. They discussed a number of urgent issues, including the serious security situation at Ukraine’s border with Russia.
During their meeting, the two ministers noted that the recent Russian troop build-up at the border with eastern Ukraine poses a threat to security in Europe and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“We have long observed a gradual Russian build-up of forces and an increased level of activity in the Arctic region, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. Large, complex exercises in which military forces comprising thousands of soldiers are transported great distances are examples of the growing Russian military presence,” says Mr Hultqvist.
The new agreement on bilateral defence cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine, which replaces an earlier protocol from 2001, includes exchange of information and cooperation in military training.
“Ukraine’s people need our solidarity and should be able to determine their future national security policy without interference. Our objective is to create peace and stability together,” says Mr Hultqvist.
During their meeting, Mr Hultqvist and Mr Reznikov also discussed the Belarusian regime’s use of migrants as a threat against the EU.
“We take the Belarusian regime’s actions towards Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, and consequently towards the entire EU and Europe, very seriously. The Belarusian regime is using people in a very cynical way to achieve its political objectives and divide Europe.”
In conjunction with his visit to Sweden, Mr Reznikov also met with Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde and representatives of the Riksdag, and visited the 4th Naval Warfare Flotilla and the 1st Marine Regiment at Berga.