"We have a lot to discuss," she says at a press conference in Kristianstad.
Malmer Stenergard notes that there have been some meetings where the US has not attended.
"It's good that they're coming," says the Foreign Minister, who met with her Ukrainian counterpart Andrij Sybiha on Wednesday.
The Foreign Minister tells TT that she "had hoped and believed" that Rubio would come to Sweden, but that she sees it as important news that it will happen.
“Constructive force”
I see Marco Rubio as a constructive force. But it is very clear that the US expects a shift in the burden, with Europe taking much greater responsibility for its own security.
Malmer Stenergard says that the talks with Rubio will focus on how to support Ukraine, but also on how NATO countries should share the burden.
When asked whether she, from the Swedish side, will make specific demands on how the United States should act towards Ukraine, the Foreign Minister replies:
It is our most important foreign policy priority to support Ukraine and to gather broad support globally for Ukraine.
She emphasizes that it is something she brings up in all conversations with colleagues.
Want an orderly shift
She sees Europe taking on greater responsibility as something fundamentally good, which should have happened earlier. At the same time, she emphasizes that it is important that there is an “orderly shift”.
Malmer Stenergard sees no great drama in President Donald Trump's sudden announcement of a withdrawal of troops from Germany. It is in line with what has been said previously, she emphasizes.
They have a fairly large troop presence in Europe and this is about a small part.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha also welcomes Marco Rubio's presence at the upcoming meeting, but he signals that it is not certain he will get a one-on-one meeting with Rubio.
It is not possible to realistically discuss peace without the United States, he says.
"We welcome the US's peace efforts. But we need Europe too," he continues, saying that more pressure is needed on Russia.
