Ukraine will be a serious provider of security within NATO, and with its membership, allies will gain a large army with combat experience, stated Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson during a discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum on Wednesday.
"The political narrative and understanding that Ukraine will be a security provider within the Alliance, as well as the awareness of this and the experience we can gain from Ukraine, are absolutely important in my opinion," he said.
According to Jonson, the number of troops Ukraine can provide under NATO's collective security framework is "impressive."
"It would be good for the Alliance to have such a capability. The volume of combat experience Ukraine can provide is also very significant," he added.
Jonson emphasized that the question of Ukraine's NATO membership should be decided solely by Ukraine and the Alliance members, and no country outside this group should have a veto right.
He also highlighted that Western partners should adhere to international law in their support for Ukraine, which includes Ukraine's right to self-defense beyond its borders.
"We must adhere to international law: Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine has the right to defend itself on its territory and beyond. This is our approach to the platforms and systems we have sent to Ukraine. So, international law is what guides us. And obviously, Russia is the aggressor in this case. Of course, it is very difficult for Ukrainians to fight with one hand tied behind their back. And Russia is exploiting this by using artillery and other launching systems from its territory," said the minister.
As reported, the Warsaw Security Forum is ongoing in the Polish capital on October 1-2, focusing on defense issues in Central and Eastern Europe. Participants at the international conference are discussing how to make Europe more prepared for threats from Russia.
