The Foreign Minister will visit Kyiv on Monday to mark Ukraine's Independence Day. She has represented Sweden at a meeting with leaders from the Coalition of the Willing and also met with her Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha.
What can be concluded is that they are in desperate need of air defence, says Malmer Stenergard to TT.
The number of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles has decreased sharply. In 2023, Ukraine received 675 missiles. This year, Ukraine is expected to receive 264 Patriot missiles, according to AFP.
"Then it is important that the countries that have that type of capability (air defence) must share it with the Ukrainians. Sweden and many other countries are calling for them to do so," says the Foreign Minister.
She further says that it is necessary to ensure that more air defence is produced both "significantly faster and cheaper" and mentions the already existing pan-European cooperation project Freya, which aims to develop its own air defence against ballistic missiles.
To resume negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, pressure on Russia must increase, according to Malmer Stenergard. She believes that more can be done in terms of sanctions and "hitting hard" against the Russian shadow fleet - where she says Sweden is driving.
"But we also need to increase support (to Ukraine). I don't think other countries are contributing enough," she says.
