By KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Foreign Minister of Sweden Tobias Billström has said that Russia’s defeat in the war against Ukraine is necessary to ensure security in the region.
"We are helping Ukraine, and Ukraine is helping us all defeat Russia. Only by defeating it in the war will we ensure peace and stability in the future. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored. And behind all this, the last word should be with the government of Ukraine. But in the end, the only thing that will solve this conflict is Russia’s military defeat," he said in an interview with the Lithuanian National Television and Radio published on Monday.
Sweden is sending Ukraine its largest package of assistance, he said.
"We will send winter equipment, which will make it possible to equip 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers for the winter. We will send materials for air defense. We will send weapons that can be used to counter Russian military power," the minister said.
Among other things, Billström said that Sweden would probably refuse to deploy nuclear weapons after joining NATO, but noted that "in the end, all countries that have a common coastline of the Baltic Sea will become members of NATO, and this will be a huge advantage in enhancing the safety and security of all people living in this part of the world."
