Commemoration of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the importance of highlighting Russian atrocities as well as Ukrainian courage 1. It was emphasized that the battle concerns not only Ukraine's independence but also the future of all of Europe and the world 1. Gratitude was expressed for those who contribute to Ukraine's defense and for the efforts of the Ukrainian people to defend their and our freedom 1. It was highlighted that it is a duty to ensure that those who sacrificed their lives did not do so in vain, to help those who remain at the fronts, and to give Ukraine the support that is needed 1. The parties in the Riksdag are united behind this support, which shall continue as long as it is needed 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
TALMANNEN
Honourable members, the Government and Your Excellency! Let me start by once again welcoming His Excellency the Ambassador of Ukraine, Andrii Plakhotniuk, to the Swedish Parliament. You have been here many times, and you are always welcome back.
Last Saturday marked two years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Soon it will also be ten years since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Last year, we gathered here in the chamber on the occasion of the one-year anniversary. But perhaps it is even more important to mark these double anniversaries this year. The free world still stands united behind Ukraine, but we now see examples of how certain politicians on both sides of the Atlantic question this support. Therefore, it is more urgent than ever to highlight the Russian atrocities and the Ukrainian courage, but also to speak plainly about what is at stake. With each passing day, it becomes increasingly clear that this battle is not solely about Ukraine remaining a free country, but that it concerns the future of all of Europe, yes, the entire world's future.
I believe that this insight that it is our collective future at stake is not least connected to the fact that the war has given us a deeper understanding of what a full-scale invasion is. It is a tidal wave of violence and atrocities sweeping across the occupied areas. It is civilians who are forced by the occupying power to commit horrific acts. It is daily bomb attacks and artillery fire against homes, schools, hospitals, and train stations in the still free parts of the country. We probably cannot fully grasp what it would mean for ourselves and for our loved ones to be forced to live under these conditions. But we still understand more now what an invasion entails.
With this insight comes a sense of gratitude. We are grateful that we ourselves have so far been spared this suffering, we are grateful for all those who in different ways contribute to Ukraine's defense and we are grateful for the efforts Ukraine and the Ukrainian people make to defend both their own and our freedom.
It is inevitable that the political discussion regarding the support for Ukraine often becomes abstract and moves at a societal level. We speak of billions, of weapons systems, and of infrastructure. We stand guard over Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity because it would be a great threat to the rules-based world order if aggression were allowed to pay off. But we do all this also for the sake of the individual people - the people who together create states and societies, the people who are now defending their freedom on the battlefields in Ukraine.
The historian and academic member Peter Englund told on Instagram the other day about ten of the people who have lost their lives recently at one of the fronts in Putin's unjust war. Here, among others, one meets the paramedic Natalia Bokotj who was killed near Avdijivka on February 10, the former elite gymnast Maksym Rosljakov who was killed on the Bakhmut front, Oleksandr Kuziak who loved to fish and who was killed four days before his 29th birthday, and the 30-year-old German citizen Diana Wagner who worked as a volunteer paramedic in a combat unit and was killed near Svatove on January 31.
They made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for Ukraine's and all of our freedom. It is our duty to ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain, it is our duty to help those who remain there at the fronts and it is our duty to ensure that those who now fight our fight feel that they are not alone and forgotten. Therefore, it is so important that we give Ukraine the support that is needed, therefore the parties in the Swedish Riksdag stand united behind this support and therefore our support will continue as long as it is needed.
Our thoughts today go to those who have given their lives in defense of Ukraine's and Europe's freedom. As a tribute to them, we will now get to listen to the song Ukraine, written in 1987 by Taras Petrynenko, who was recently awarded a distinction by President Zelenskyy for his contributions to Ukrainian culture. Here in the Riksdag, the song will be performed by Tymur Vasylyshyn, whom I want to call the voice of freedom because he has participated with his singing at every one of the Monday meetings for Ukraine at Norrmalmstorg nearby here. Welcome forward, Tymur!
Tymur Vasylyshyn presented Ukraine by Taras Petrynenko.
Thank you very much, Tymur Vasylyshyn, for the beautiful song! With this, we conclude the commemoration of the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Thank you for participating!
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.