Editor’s Note: The Kyiv Post spoke with Swedish Ambassador to Ukraine Andreas von Beckerath on the sidelines of the 12th annual Yalta European Strategy meeting in Kyiv on Sept. 12 on whether Ukraine can meet the challenges it is facing.
KP: Ukraine is fighting
a war on two fronts – against Russia in the east and internally combating
corruption. Historically, countries that have fought two-front wars, including
Bonaparte Napoleon and Adolf Hitler, have been at a major disadvantage. Is Ukraine prevailing in this two-front
war?
AB: I’ve always
been and remain an optimist when it comes to Ukraine’s future. I think what we’ve
seen so far since the last Yalta conference a year is still somewhat optimistic
when it comes to what has happened in reforms. I think that the government and
leadership deserves credit for implementing the reforms that have been made.
We would like to see a faster pace, but I really don’t agree with those that
say that nothing has happened. There’s been quite substantial progress. And
that makes me hopeful.
What I always say is that the future of this country will
not be decided on the battlefield, it will be decided by the implementation of
the reform package. That has to be the focus for the country.
KP: Is Ukraine
prepared to meet these challenges? It’s not as developed as the European Union
countries, which are struggling with the new influx of migrants, so can Ukraine
meet its challenges given its state of development?
AB: I’m
absolutely sure it is prepared to meet these challenges. If you meet with the
Ukrainian civil society, if you meet with the young generation of Ukrainians, it
is impossible not to be an optimist when it comes to the readiness of the
Ukrainians to meet these challenges.
KP: We’ve seen
Russia not only disrupting Ukraine’s politics and internal order but also the
global geopolitical order, and we’ve seen Russia address Sweden’s contemplation
of joining NATO. How is Sweden responding to the changing world order?
AB: As an
ambassador in Ukraine, I’m very much focused on Russia’s aggression towards the
country. And we do believe that Russia bears the full responsibility for the
conflict in Ukraine. When it comes to Sweden’s security policy, of course, we
are also affected by Russsia’s more aggressive behavior. We have made it
absolutely clear that only Swedish citizens will make decisions on Sweden’s security
policy. Just as staunchly as we support Ukraine’s right to decide its own
future, we expect other countries to respect our right to decide our own future
– I’m referring to comments made by the spokesperson of Russia’s foreign
minister, who said that if Sweden would join NATO, it will have repercussions. That
is, of course, unacceptable to pose indirect threats like that. Only Swedish citizens will make decision about Sweden’s foreign policy
KP: Some say
Ukraine’s fight is Europe’s fight, and we’ve seen foreign fighters on both
sides of the conflict. What is Sweden’s stance on its citizens fighting for the
Ukrainian side? We’ve seen Swedes in a Ukrainian volunteer battalion.
AB:
This is nothing that is supported by the Swedish government. We expect all foreign fighters to leave Ukraine, that is the way to solve this conflict, and again the most important thing is Russia needs toimplement its part of the Minsk (peace) agreement. Ukraine has done quite a lot on its part of the Minsk agreement, now it’s time for Russia to deliver.
