Swedish Prime Minister: To approach EU, Ukraine must recognize same-sex marriages

Swedish Prime Minister and Ukrainian gay soldier. Photo: Instagram Kristersson

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that the legalization of same-sex unions is an important condition for Ukraine's European integration. He announced this after meeting with Ukrainian LGBT veterans and representatives of the Swedish LGBT organization RFSL at his official residence.

"Today, same-sex couples cannot enter into marriages or registered partnerships in Ukraine. Full legal protection of the rights of all minorities, including the LGBTQ community, is an important part of Ukraine's European convergence for us, and we support this," stated the Swedish Prime Minister.

Kristersson emphasized that Sweden, as a "strong supporter of Ukraine", will "closely monitor the fulfillment of this requirement".

The Prime Minister noted that Ukrainian homosexual military personnel, who "risk their lives on the front line", are a "living expression of the liberal values that Ukraine fights for".

The meeting was attended by Ukrainian veterans who identify as part of the LGBT community and representatives of RFSL — the largest LGBT organization in Sweden.

The issue of the rights of sexual minorities is indeed part of the Copenhagen criteria for European Union membership, concerning the protection of human rights and minorities. However, the EU has not yet made the legalization of same-sex marriages a mandatory condition for accession.

Currently, Ukraine has a constitutional provision defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Changing this provision would require amendments to the Constitution.

Recall, a Kyiv court ruled that the relationship between two men can be considered a family.

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