Sweden's support to Ukraine

National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) delivered by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström on behalf of Sweden. New York, September 2023 Check against delivery

On 18–26 September, several high-level meetings will be held in connection with the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters in New York. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Health Care Acko Ankarberg Johansson will attend.

On Friday 1 September, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström received a congressional delegation from the United States House of Representatives. The delegation included members of both the Republican and Democratic parties and was led by Republican Michael McCaul, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The visit aimed to follow up on the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Sweden’s forthcoming membership of NATO and the continued support to Ukraine.

Tomorrow, Friday 1 September, Tobias Billström will hold a press briefing together with members of the United States Congress. Alongside the visiting Congress members, Mr Billström will discuss Sweden’s forthcoming NATO membership and the continued support to Ukraine.

The defence ministers of the EU Member States will gather for an informal meeting in Toledo, Spain on 29–30 August. The meeting will focus on EU military support to Ukraine.

On Friday 25 August 2023, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. The meeting will focus on the security situation, including EU support to Ukraine, competitiveness and the green transition. There will be photo opportunities, and a joint press conference will be held in conjunction with the meeting.

On 19 August 2023, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Sweden. During the visit, several ministers took part in the talks. Mr Zelenskyy and Ms Zelenska were also received by His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen. Mr Kristersson also hosted meetings with the Speaker of the Riksdag, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and all party leaders.

Statement of Intent between the Prime Minister of Sweden and the President of Ukraine on Enhanced Cooperation on the CV90 Platform, made 19 August 2023.

(New version) The Government has provided basis for a new support package to Ukraine. The assistance includes ammunition and spare parts for several of the equipment systems that Sweden has donated to Ukraine, including Combat Vehicle 90 and Battle Tank 122 (Leopard 2). Sweden is also sending transport vehicles, contingency goods and mine clearance equipment. At the same time, the Government also need to obtain authorisation to sell the RB 99 (AMRAAM) air-to-air missiles to the United States, which will then donate them to Ukraine. The total value of this thirteenth support package amounts to approximately SEK 3.4 billion.

Ahead of the anniversary of the August 2020 presidential election in Belarus, the EU is imposing new sanctions in response to the increased domestic repression in the country. The measures are also in response to Belarus’s support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

On 21 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell attended an annual conference on Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The discussions focused on how to facilitate the business sector’s engagement in reconstruction efforts.

The Government has adopted a new strategy for Sweden’s recovery and reform cooperation with Ukraine for 2023–2027. The strategy will provide a total of approximately EUR 522 million (SEK 6 billion) and is Sweden’s largest-ever bilateral development assistance strategy.

On 13 July 2023, the Presidents of Finland and the United States and the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden met in Helsinki for the third U.S.-Nordic Leaders’ Summit. Building on the previous meetings in the same format, the leaders reconfirmed the strong U.S.-Nordic partnership and the intensifying cooperation between their countries, focusing on security, the environment, technology and society.

On 12 July at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson signed a protective security agreement with Ukraine. The agreement makes it possible for Sweden and Ukraine to exchange confidential information concerning, for example, test flights of JAS Gripen or military equipment.

Finland’s new Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen visited Sweden on Thursday 6 July to meet with Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. The ministers discussed matters such as Sweden’s upcoming accession to NATO and Sweden’s and Finland’s continued support to Ukraine.

On Thursday 6 July, Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will visit Sweden to meet with Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. This will be Mr Häkkänen’s first visit abroad as Minister of Defence.

A greener, more secure and freer EU was the goal when Sweden took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January. As the Swedish Presidency comes to an end, it is time to sum up the major achievements – for Sweden and for the EU: Fit for 55, which is the world’s most ambitious climate package, a historic agreement on a new migration policy, and sustained and strengthened support for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is in Brussels for the two-day summit of the European Council. Agenda items include EU support to Ukraine, security and defence, China, migration and competitiveness. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will also sum up the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Singapore, 3rd of June, 2023 Check against delivery

The Government today announced a new package of humanitarian and recovery support to Ukraine. The SEK 380 million in support is aimed at the most urgent needs and emphasises the important role of civil society organisations.