Ukraine signs security deal with Sweden

During a visit to Stockholm for a summit with Nordic leaders on Friday (31 May), Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed a bilateral security deal as part of a series of Swedish commitments to Ukraine made in recent days.

The Swedish government announced that the scope of Sweden’s bilateral agreement with Ukraine amounts to at least SEK 105 billion (€9 billion) for the 2022-2026 period, with a focus on military assistance. Funds for reconstruction and other support are also included.

“Our support will not stop,” Kristersson said during a doorstep ahead of the meeting with Zelenskyy, who declared that “only together can we stop the madness from Moscow. We need to get that job done as soon as possible”.

According to the Ukrainian president, Russia is trying to expand the war and is preparing provocations in the Baltic region.

The funds agreed by the Swedish government had already been announced in the form of a three-year SEK 75 billion (€6 billion) military aid package presented last week.

“Today, Sweden presents its three-year plan for military aid to Ukraine, totalling 75 billion SEK (~€6,5 billion). Together with the previous Swedish support packages, this will bring Sweden’s total military aid to Ukraine to over 100 billion SEK (~€8.6 billion),” Swedish Defence minister Pål Jonson wrote on X on 22 May.

According to the Swedish government, the agreement will give Ukraine better conditions for long-term defence planning against Russia and the development of a modern defence force.

Zelenskyy is set to also meet the prime ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland, as well as the president of Finland and the king of Sweden.

The leaders will also discuss how the Nordic countries can increase their production of ammunition and help boost Ukraine’s own weapons production, Reuters reports.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

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