Friday marks one year since Russia and Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Despite the fact that the country annexed Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine back in 2014, it took many to bed when the Russian forces marched into the country with the goal of capturing the capital, Kiev.
Nothing came of it. Kiev is standing strong, but for the residents of the capital and the rest of the country, life has changed. The same applies to Tobias Thydén, Sweden’s ambassador to Ukraine.
– Everything that we do at this embassy since February 24 is about one thing: how can Sweden support Ukraine so that they can win this war, he says.
His understanding of the war is clear – what unfolds on the battlefields will largely determine the future of Europe, both in terms of security and values for possibly generations to come.
– The war is a challenge to Europe’s security, unequivocally. It is not a platitude that the Ukrainians sacrifice their lives for the values we are talking about, but it is true, says Thyberg.
Watch the full interview with the ambassador in the player above.