Zelenskyy signs security pact with Sweden, Norway, Iceland

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bilateral security agreement Friday with Sweden, Norway and Iceland at a Nordic-Ukrainian summit in Stockholm.

The move comes as Western nations discuss whether to allow Kyiv to use arms they provide to Kyiv to strike military targets inside Russia.

The Nordic leaders discussed the war, which Russia launched in February 2022, as well as regional security issues ahead of an upcoming NATO summit in Washington this summer.

"Our top priorities are to ensure more air defense systems for Ukraine, joint defense industry projects, and weapons for our warriors, as well as global efforts to force Russia to make peace," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

He suggested at a news conference in the Swedish capital that to prevail against Russia, Ukraine must attack Moscow's ability to carry out airstrikes.

The summit was also attended by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.

It was the third to take place between Nordic nations and Ukraine since the beginning of the war.

Zelenskyy told reporters that the countries had signed new joint security agreements that involve "incredibly strong and important measures that will strengthen Ukraine until we become members of NATO."

Ukraine has similar agreements with Denmark and Finland.

Zelenskyy did not take a direct position on whether F-16 fighter jets supplied by the West would be used in strikes deep within Russia. Instead, he said time would tell how different weapon systems would be used.

He confirmed that the first planes were expected to arrive later this year.

Store pointed out that the war in Ukraine was “the bloodiest conflict” in Europe since World War II.

Meanwhile, Stubb told reporters, according to Finnish public broadcaster, YLE,

that “as a result of Russia's actions, Ukraine will become a member of the EU and NATO.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that Ukraine's victory is a strategic goal for Sweden and the other Nordic countries.

Sweden confirmed earlier this week it would supply Ukraine with its 16th military aid package worth 13.3 Swedish krona ($1.3 billion), the biggest so far from Nordic countries.

The package aims to help strengthen Ukraine's air defense and includes airborne surveillance and control aircraft.

Earlier this month, Stockholm announced plans to provide Ukraine with military support totaling 75 billion Swedish krona over three years.

So far, Stockholm has given Ukraine a variety of advanced military equipment, including Archer self-propelled howitzers and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened the West on Tuesday with "serious consequences" if Ukraine is allowed to use Western long-range weapons on Russian territory, according to The Moscow Times newspaper.

Putin warned that Kyiv striking inside Russia could trigger a global conflict.