On July 9, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Olexandr Mischenko met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden Martin Åberg.

The parties discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation in the security sphere, further military support for Ukraine, interaction within the framework of international security initiatives, as well as prospects for the development of cooperation between Ukraine and Sweden.

Olexandr Mischenko expressed gratitude to the Government of Sweden for its consistent support for Ukraine in countering the ongoing Russian aggression, in particular for its significant contribution to strengthening the defense capabilities of our state, participation in international security assistance mechanisms, and the recent decision to allocate an additional package of support for Ukraine’s energy sector.

The diplomats noted the strategic importance of the recently reached agreements on the supply of Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, emphasizing that this historic step will not only critically strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force to protect Ukrainian skies, but also demonstrate Stockholm’s leadership in strengthening the long-term security of the entire European continent.

The interlocutors paid special attention to the further implementation of the PURL initiative, the development of cooperation in the defense industry, interaction in the field of strengthening Ukraine’s air and missile defense capabilities, as well as continuing work on concluding a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of unmanned technologies.

The parties paid particular attention to practical steps in the context of Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The Swedish side reaffirmed its unwavering support for our country’s course toward full membership in the European Union and NATO, as well as its readiness to continue sharing the necessary expertise for the successful implementation of reforms.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical changes in the Caspian-Black Sea region, the parties exchanged views on the development of new secure logistics corridors between Europe and Asia, which are becoming increasingly important for the global economy.

In this regard, special attention was given to the implementation of the so-called “Middle Corridor” project, which is intended to establish a reliable multimodal trade route between China and European countries, bypassing the territory of the Russian Federation.