Сoalition of Countries Needed to Support Continual Development of Ukraine Defense Capacities - Carl Bildt

Security guarantees for Ukraine can be ensured through a lasting support to its defense capacities from a coalition of countries, Swedish Foreign Minister (2006-14) and Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-94), Carl Bildt, said at the 17th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting «Ukraine: Defending All Our Freedom», organised by YES in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

“I would rather speak about a coalition of countries who commit to support Ukraine over the long term to develop the necessary defense capacities. I would also add some political commitments here, agreements to provide all kinds of support to Ukraine should its territorial integrity be breached,” Bildt said. He added that not all countries are ready to make commitments similar to the NATO Statute Article 5 .

Bildt also said Ukraine will restore its sovereignty within the 1991 internationally recognized borders. However, to achieve that, step by step actions are needed.

“We should move step-by-step. The UN resolution approved in the early days of March demonstrated a level of support we have not seen for a long time. It unequivocally said that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.” Bildt said.