The statement is given before the planned crisis meeting in Paris on Monday where European top leaders will discuss the US message that Europe must not sit at the negotiating table.
– There I think that the Swedish message must be very, very clear. It is about the future that Ukraine’s future cannot be decided over their heads, but Ukraine must of course have full participation in any possible peace negotiations. But it is also true that Europe’s security cannot be decided without the EU sitting at the table, says Andersson.
“A clear requirement”
Is there a risk that the Swedish message will not be clear enough?
– Ulf Kristersson has said that the United States decides who they want to invite to different negotiations. Absolutely, but Sweden can place clear demands on what we think.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) has said that it should be a matter of course that Europe gets a place in the negotiating table. Isn’t that clear enough?
– Then I think we should say that it is a clear requirement from Europe.
Is it possible to persuade the United States to leave the EU?
– Everything else is completely unreasonable, the EU should make the very clear requirement.
“Extremely provocative”
S is also critical of US requirements for access to Ukrainian mineral resources to provide continued support to the country. Andersson says “you can’t give someone a gift and then demand paid for it afterwards”.
– I also think that we should be clear about what we now see, where the US administration requires Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for support, it is extremely provocative when Ukraine is under attack in a vigorous war. So you don’t act between friends.
Should Sweden offer to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine when the war is over?
– First, peace and a peace agreement that is acceptable for Ukraine is needed, which not only lays the foundation for Russia to attack peaceful and democratic neighboring countries again, then you have to decide on it. But Sweden has on many occasions, in various places in the world, participated in peacekeeping operations, says Andersson.
“The Prime Minister, myself and the Defense Minister have been clear. We expect the EU to sit at the table at any negotiations. I have also presented this directly to Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, ”writes the Foreign Minister in a statement to TT.