Ukraine, Sweden intensify cooperation to combat hybrid threats from Russia

Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar agreed this issue at the meeting with a delegation of the Swedish Atlantic Council headed by its Chairman Göran Lennmarker on Monday, the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reported.

During the meeting, the Swedish delegation was briefed on the security situation in Ukraine, caused by Russian aggression. The deputy foreign minister also stressed on the importance of strengthening sanctions against Russia and the presence of NATO forces in the Kerch Strait.

The Swedish guests, in their turn, emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s experience for the European partners in countering threats to European security. In this context, the Swedish delegation informed about the preparation of an international conference in Stockholm on security threats in the Black and Baltic Seas, which is scheduled for October 2019.

The parties welcomed close and friendly relations between Ukraine and Sweden, as well as Stockholm's support of the foreign policy priorities of Kyiv. Sweden's considerable assistance in the process of domestic reforms in Ukraine, as well as solid support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, was highly praised. Deputy Foreign Minister Vasyl Bodnar called on Sweden to intensify support for projects aimed at strengthening local self-government in the context of the process of decentralization.

ish