If you prefer, you can use that. Okay, great. Most welcome to all of you, and more than most of you. Welcome, Mr. President. Welcome, Volodymyr. Welcome to Sweden again.
We meet here today in Linköping for bilateral cooperation reasons, and we meet in Brussels tomorrow for European cooperation.
The intensity of all the discussions and all the cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine.
Just a couple of hours ago, I came directly from the Swedish Parliament ahead of the European Council meeting tomorrow, and I just want you to know that, as in every democracy, we have quite often different opinions about many things in the Swedish Parliament.
But not on Ukraine and not on the support for Ukraine. So in Sweden, we stand very united behind you and behind the Ukrainian people. I want you to convey that from the Swedish Parliament.
Volodymyr, allow me first a few words in Swedish.
As you can hear, I have a slight voice problem that will go away by Saturday evening. It is no coincidence that we are meeting here at Saab in Linköping, where the JAS 39 Gripen is built, and where Saab's latest model, the one standing behind us, was delivered for the first time to the Swedish Air Force just the other day.
With Swedish engineering and Swedish combat aircraft, Sweden becomes stronger and the Swedish people become safer. But the Gripen can also make all of Europe safer.
President Zelensky and I have just signed a letter of intent, a declaration of intent between Sweden and Ukraine. And this is the beginning of a long journey, but it takes us one step closer to a major export deal for Saab and for Sweden with Ukraine.
This means great opportunities for Ukraine's future air force, and for Sweden and the Swedish defense industry, but also for long-term industrial cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine.
As you here already know, and as President Zelensky knows better than anyone else, Sweden is one of the world's largest military donors to Ukraine in absolute terms. We contribute armored vehicles, artillery, air defense, and very, very much more. On the aviation side, Sweden contributes the radar surveillance aircraft, the E-890, for those with a special interest.
It is an aircraft that strengthens the capability of the older Western aircraft now operating in Ukraine. We also contribute airbase equipment and training.
But — and this is important — we also learn a great deal from Ukraine, and today we have gone through in detail a number of areas where Sweden brings military and civilian experience from Ukraine that we benefit from, and that we can then bring back with further benefit to Ukraine.
Today's declaration of intent is, however, something different. It does not aim at any new donations right now. Instead, it concerns long-term cooperation on air defense and on the possibilities for a very large defense-industrial deal — probably somewhere between 100 and 150 Gripen combat aircraft of the E model, which is now beginning production, to build up a new, strong Ukrainian air force.
Ukraine would in that case become part of the growing family that uses this uniquely flexible air combat system.
Today's declaration of intent is therefore a clear and mutual statement of intent. But as I said, it is the beginning of a long journey over the coming 10 to 15 years. And this long-term ambition does not in any way conflict with the great needs that now exist to continue supporting Ukraine against Russia in the ongoing war of aggression.
For over three years, Russia has carried out its brutal attacks against Ukraine. They direct their attacks both at Ukraine's brave soldiers, but also, much more cowardly, at playgrounds, hospitals, and schools. Children are killed, children are taken away from their families against their will. This is a brutality without limits. Instead of putting pressure on Ukraine, the whole world should be putting pressure on Russia.
The free world must now increase the political, economic, and military pressure on President Putin to bring an end to this brutal war.
From today, we are now undertaking intensive work in which Ukraine, together with Sweden and other partners, will work hard to explore various possibilities for the long-term financing of Ukraine's defense.
The starting point is good. Everyone agrees that a strong Ukraine with a strong Ukrainian defense is the best long-term protection, not only for Ukraine but also for all other European countries, and that the ability to protect the airspace is of absolutely decisive importance.
An important step in this may be taken as early as tomorrow, when the question of frozen Russian assets once again comes up for discussion at the European Council. And it is no coincidence that we are both flying on to Brussels late this evening.
But even after the war, long-term financing will be needed for Ukraine's reconstruction and for Ukraine's military defense. And that question is naturally also decisive for the conditions and possibilities of the deal we are now signing a declaration of intent on.
Finally, and I won't bore you with the details, Volodymyr, Sweden has a proud history of world-leading combat aircraft.
Older generations speak of the J 29 Tunnan, the J 32 Lansen, the J 35 Draken, the J 37 Viggen, and now the JAS 39 Gripen. It is a unique history of aviation capability that we have built up in this country. Few NATO countries have this combined capacity, and the new aircraft that you see behind me and President Zelensky right now is not only a source of pride for Sweden and for Linköping, but also a unique Swedish capability that can help defend the security of Ukraine, Europe, and Sweden. That is what this is ultimately about.
So allow me to summarize the step we are taking today. The Swedish-Ukrainian letter of intent creates the necessary preconditions for a major export deal on the Gripen fighters between our two countries. If we succeed, it will contribute to increased security in our part of the world and will strengthen both Ukraine and Sweden.
Realized, it will provide Ukraine with... And over to you, Mr. President. Thank you.
