Updated 12.07 | Published 11.58
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full screen Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
Russia started the war against Ukraine in 2014 when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula, says Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).
– You cannot trust anything that comes out of Moscow’s side. Point.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov now says that Russia is no longer conducting a “special military operation” in Ukraine but is at war. It is the first time since the full-scale invasion began just over two years ago that the Kremlin has said so.
– Russia has been at war with Ukraine since 2014. And that Russia carried out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is a fact. Everyone knows this. And that it becomes clear is therefore only to be welcomed, says Tobias Billström.
– The Swedish government has always considered that it was completely clear that the Russian aggression is a war and nothing else.
Started ten years ago
When Russia, in violation of international law, annexed the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula in 2014, and invaded the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the war began.
– The world reacted but was not clear, which is why we got this strange condition with the frozen conflict via the Minsk agreements. It is one of the great lessons for the future, we should not believe what President Putin says, because there are no truths coming out of Moscow, says Billström.
Moscow has historically tried to camouflage the crimes committed in Ukraine, he believes.
– The important thing is that the world sees that it is not possible to trust anything that comes from Moscow. Point. When it suits, you change your wording.
Increase support and sanctions
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov further says that everyone should realize that Russia is at war “for its internal mobilization”.
– It is certainly aimed at the Russian audience, says Billström.
He sees it as a sign that Russia is preparing for a prolonged war in which more Russians may need to be mobilized.
– Russia’s appetite will not decrease unless it suffers a strategic defeat in Ukraine and Ukraine wins the war. We should draw that conclusion and set ourselves to increase the production of military equipment, increase sanctions against Russia and ensure that we help Ukraine militarily, economically and politically.