Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Sweden to meet Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. During his trip, the Ukrainian president asked for Swedish-made Gripen jets to enhance his country’s air defense.
Zelenskyy said, “It is important that we took powerful steps. It is important that in a few weeks, there will be appropriate actions which, I strongly believe, will open up the possibility of obtaining suitable aircraft in the future.”
The Ukrainian president stressed that his country’s forces need to “control the sky to ensure the further advance of troops and the liberation of the territories occupied by Russia.” Zelenskyy said that “Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen aircraft can strengthen Ukrainian positions in the sky.”
After meeting with the Swedish leader, Zelenskyy released a video message in which he said that “We are getting closer to Swedish Gripen aircraft appearing in our skies.”
The Ukrainian president also thanked the Swedish government and the people for their vital support of Ukraine. He said, “We deal with such vile Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, daily. Every day while this criminal aggression continues. The only way to stop it is to expel the Russian invaders from our land. Physically defeat Russia on the battlefield. Unfortunately, they will not understand anything else in the Kremlin.”
During the meeting between the Ukrainian leader and the Swedish prime minister, detailed the agreement on the joint production of the Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicle in Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian President’s office, Zelenskyy said, “Our warriors highly praise the СV90 and are grateful not only for the fact that they are advancing with the help of these vehicles but also for the fact that the CV90 vehicles help save and protect the lives of our warriors. Life is the most valuable.”
While in Sweden, Zelenskyy and the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska also met with Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
Olena @ZelenskaUA and I met with HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and HM Queen Silvia. We highly value Sweden’s strong support for Ukraine. We thanked Their Majesties for their solidarity with Ukrainians who were forced to flee Russian aggression and seek temporary refuge in Sweden. pic.twitter.com/aWbPE9dpUu
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2023
Ukaine’s President Zelenskyy noted Sweden’s support for “Ukrainian citizens who were forced to seek temporary shelter in this country, escaping Russian aggression,” the Presidential Office of Ukraine said. The statement further added that Zelenskyy thanked their Royal Highnesses and the Royal Family of Sweden for their great attention to the needs of these people.
After concluding his Sweden visit, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and his team arrived in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, President Zelenskyy met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. According to the Ukrainian president talks in the Netherlands mainly focused on acquiring F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine as well as the global peace summit and bringing Russians accountable for their crimes in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also visited Denmark, where he met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and discussed the possibility of expanding training missions. The Ukrainian president thanked the government and the people of Denmark for their support and decision to send F-16 jets to Ukraine.
