Sweden hosts Crimea Platform parliamentary summit in support of Ukraine

Delegates from 70 national parliaments and interparliamentary organisations gathered in Stockholm on 23–24 November for the fourth parliamentary summit of the Crimea Platform, a diplomatic format aimed at addressing the consequences of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The summit was jointly hosted by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Swedish Riksdag. The opening session included remarks from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, and a special address by HRH The Crown Princess of Sweden at a reception held at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

In her speech, the Crown Princess emphasised the gravity of the situation in Ukraine. “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and its illegal occupation of Crimea, represent a brutal attack on a sovereign nation. But it is also an assault on the European security order and the rules-based international system,” she said. “Your presence here sends a clear message: aggression must not, and will not, be allowed to prevail.”

She highlighted Sweden’s longstanding historical ties with Ukraine, dating back over a thousand years to the union of Princess Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden and Grand Prince Yaroslav of Kyiv, which established a bridge of friendship and shared heritage between the two nations. The Crown Princess also referred to the recent exhibition Crossroads at the Army Museum in Stockholm, which showcased Ukraine’s history and culture, including the Ukrainian village of Gammalsvenskby and archaeological findings from the Viking Age.

“The exhibition made it clear how important it is to make Ukraine’s history visible,” she said, noting that Russia’s war of aggression threatens not only Ukrainian sovereignty but also its culture and identity. She stressed that the ties between Sweden and Ukraine are enduring, spanning past, present, and future, and reaffirmed the countries’ joint dedication to a free and secure Ukraine.

The Crimea Platform summit provides a forum for parliamentary leaders to coordinate international support for Ukraine, uphold the rules-based international order, and address the political, humanitarian, and security challenges resulting from Russia’s aggression.

The event also served as a reminder of the human cost of the conflict. The Crown Princess recounted a visit in June to the Royal Palace with a group of war-injured Ukrainian children, describing it as “deeply moving” and highlighting the importance of continued international solidarity.

The Stockholm summit reflects Sweden’s strong parliamentary and societal support for Ukraine and underscores the unified commitment of international partners to oppose aggression, uphold democracy, and defend human rights.

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