Explaining complex things in simple words: Massive shelling of Ukraine, Fico's anti-Ukrainian statements, Sweden's integration into NATO

1. MASSIVE SHELLING OF UKRAINE

On January 23, Russia terrorized the settlements of Kharkiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk oblasts and Kyiv with shelling.

▪ Russia deliberately attacks residential buildings, targeting peaceful Ukrainians, not military facilities. ▪ The aggressor shelled high-rise buildings in Kharkiv three times yesterday. Kharkiv residents will never forget or forgive Russian murderers for their crimes.

▪ Russian propaganda is trying to justify its terror with “revenge” for the victims in Donetsk; this was also caused by Russian shelling.

▪ The guarantor of the safety and preservation of life of Ukrainians is the Defence Forces, which protect cities from Russian missiles and destroy enemy objects on the territory of Russia, which are involved in preparing for new attacks.

▪ For self-defence, Ukraine needs more air defence systems and ammunition to them. This is a matter of life and death of thousands of peaceful Ukrainians.

2. ANTI-UKRAINIAN STATEMENTS OF FICO

On the eve of a meeting with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal on January 24 in Uzhhorod, Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico made a number of unfriendly statements towards Ukraine.

▪ Ukrainians disagree with R. Fico's statements that the withdrawal of Russians from Crimea, Donbas, and Luhansk is “unrealistic.” The Slovak prime minister overestimates the power of Putin's regime.

▪ For Ukraine, joining NATO is not a whim, but a matter of physical security and the lives of millions of its citizens. No agreements with Putin guarantee this.

▪ Without security in Ukraine, there will be no security either in Slovakia or in Europe in general. Ukraine and partners are making efforts to liberate the occupied Crimea and Donbas, as well as to prevent the progress of aggression and the possible advance of Russian troops to Košice, Prešov, and other Slovak territories.

▪ Despite the statements of R. Fico, life in Kyiv can hardly be called “normal.” For almost two years, residents of the capital of Ukraine have been forced to hide in shelters from cyclical missile and drone attacks.

▪ The inappropriate statements of the Prime Minister of Slovakia are dictated by his lack of such experience. We hope that the negotiations in Uzhhorod will contribute to R. Fico reconsidering his views.

3. SWEDEN'S INTEGRATION INTO NATO

The Turkish Parliament has approved Sweden's membership in NATO.

▪ Ukraine welcomes the achievements on the path of Sweden's Euro-Atlantic integration and expresses respect for the decision of the Turkish Parliament.

▪ Sweden is a powerful state in military terms. Its accession to NATO will add value to the Alliance's collective security.

▪ Nothing is more important than strengthening NATO's ability to defend its members in the face of increasing global turbulence due to Russian aggression against Ukraine. No personal ambitions and other calculations should stand in the way of this.

▪ Hungary remains the only NATO member that has not yet approved Sweden's accession to the Alliance.

▪ Ukraine expects to complement the Alliance as part of the new wave of NATO enlargement after Sweden. Without Ukraine, the architecture of European security will be incomplete; NATO will reliably strengthen its eastern flank with Ukraine. 

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security