PRESS RELEASE : Andriy Yermak discussed with the diplomats of the Scandinavian countries the situation at the front and strengthening the capabilities of the defense forces of Ukraine [October 2022]

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak held a meeting with representatives of the diplomatic corps of the Scandinavian countries. The meeting was attended by ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary: Finland – Jaakko Lehtovirta, Kingdom of Sweden – Tobias Thyberg, Kingdom of Norway – Erik Svedahl, Kingdom of Denmark – Ole Mikkelsen, as well as defense attaché of the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine Björn Wilburn and defense attaché of the Embassy Denmark in Ukraine Felix Ebbestad.

Andriy Yermak informed the attendees about Ukraine’s success in resisting a full-scale Russian invasion. He emphasized: it is extremely important for our country that partners have comprehensive information about the events at the front, as the security situation in Ukraine depends on it.

“It is important that you understand what is happening today, what our needs are and how we are moving towards our victory, our joint victory,” said the Head of the Office of the President.

Andriy Yermak thanked the diplomats, leaders, governments and people of their countries for actively helping Ukraine since the first days of the war and protecting our interests on the world stage and in international organizations.

“We feel it and greatly appreciate it,” he emphasized.

The Head of the President’s Office congratulated the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden on the decision to join NATO and the consolidation of forces that supported them. Andriy Yermak called on the representatives of these countries, as well as Denmark and Norway, to support Ukraine on the way to the Alliance.

“We understand that this path is not easy, it is not one that can be completed very quickly. But this war completely changed the world – the way it was before February 24 and the way it became after the Russian invasion. Therefore, approaches and procedures must be changed. Of course, keeping the consensus, the unity of all members of the Alliance,” said the Head of the President’s Office.

He stated: today, Ukraine, not having the status of a NATO member, has already destroyed 50% of the potential of the Russian aggressor with the support of its partners.

“Today, we showed the whole world that Ukraine knows how to fight, knows how to win,” added Andriy Yermak and expressed his belief that everyone who has an objective vision of events is sure of Ukraine’s victory.

Therefore, according to him, Ukraine’s application to join NATO is a powerful signal, and our state’s acquisition of membership will only strengthen the Alliance.

“There are no longer any talks about Ukraine’s potential neutrality or anything else. Our course is NATO membership. Our goal in this war is the complete restoration of our territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine. Therefore, we are sure that our membership will only strengthen the Alliance,” Andriy Yermak emphasized.

At the same time, the Head of the Office of the President drew the interlocutors’ attention to the fact that Ukraine will need security guarantees on the way to NATO membership. He called for support for the recommendations to the Kyiv Security Compact developed jointly with international experts and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, which contains a list of necessary guarantees.

Andriy Yermak also offered the diplomats to support the final document of the NATO summit, dedicated to the latest events in Ukraine and illegal attempts to annex our territories, which is to be held in a video format shortly.

Deputy Head of the President’s Office Roman Mashovets and commander of the Kherson joint strategic group of forces Oleksandr Tarnavskyi told the representatives of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark about the situation at the front. They also informed about the course of mobilization in the Russian Federation and attempts to annex the occupied territories of Ukraine by Russia.