Sweden will not be deterred by Russia's provocations, Defense Minister Pal Jonson asserted on Friday, following President Vladimir Putin's warnings against Western nations supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm alongside Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Jonson announced significant financial aid to Ukraine for the acquisition of long-range missiles and drones. He emphasized that Sweden's commitment to Ukraine’s defense remains unwavering.
“The Russian escalation and provocations we’ve witnessed recently are aimed at intimidating us into withdrawing support for Ukraine. This will not succeed,” Jonson declared. “Backing Ukraine is not only the morally right thing to do but also strategically sound. Ukraine's security is intricately tied to our own.”
Jonson underscored Ukraine's right under international law to defend itself, both within its borders and beyond. He highlighted Sweden’s willingness to bolster Ukraine’s capabilities in producing and deploying long-range missiles and strike drones.
This announcement follows remarks by Putin, who on Thursday labeled the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as having "global" implications. The Russian leader criticized Kyiv's allies for enabling the use of Western-supplied weapons against Russian territory, hinting at potential strikes on military facilities in those nations.
“We believe we are entitled to target the military facilities of countries that allow their weapons to be used against our infrastructure,” Putin warned, as tensions in the nearly three-year-long conflict escalated further.
Recent developments include Ukraine’s use of US- and UK-supplied missiles to target Russian territory, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. Despite these heightened tensions, Sweden reaffirmed its steadfast support for Ukraine, framing its assistance as both a defense of shared democratic values and a measure to ensure regional security.