Sweden pledges support for Ukraine, holds back on talking about troop deployment

Sweden is ready to contribute to security guarantees for Ukraine, particularly by providing assistance with aerial surveillance and naval resources.

This was stated by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Caliber.Az reports citing the Kingdom’s Aftonbladet.

“We want to be involved, but it must be done in a safe and reliable way, and we need to know what we are committing to,” Kristersson said.

However, the prime minister did not indicate whether Sweden plans to send its ground troops to Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of enabling Ukraine to defend itself in a way that deters Russia from future attacks.

“I don’t think this is about deploying very large forces from other countries to Ukraine, but about ensuring that Ukraine itself can take responsibility for its country convincingly enough that Russia won’t attempt it again,” Kristersson stressed.

His remarks came shortly after European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attending the Washington summit, where they discussed the future prospects of establishing peace between Ukraine and Russia. While the precise details of what was discussed remains unknown, all sides underscored that security guarantees to Ukraine were on top of the agenda.

Following the multi-lateral meeting in the White House, the press secretary for the US administration Karoline Leavitt clarified that there would be “US boots would not be on the ground in Ukraine” while pointing out, that Washington could assist in the co-ordination of security guarantees and possibly other means.

By Nazrin Sadigova