"My message is that it is in Sweden's interest that Russia's aggression against neighboring countries never pays off. Otherwise, what happens in Ukraine today could affect one of us in the EU tomorrow," Kristersson writes in a post on social media.
The Prime Minister wrote at noon on Monday that he had just spoken with other EU heads of state and government about the latest talks on a potential peace solution to the war between Ukraine and Russia. The US and Ukraine say they have adjusted several points at a meeting in Switzerland.
But while work towards peace is underway, Russia continues to attack Ukraine, Kristersson points out. He points to last night's attack on the heavily besieged city of Kharkiv, near the border in northeastern Ukraine, where four civilians were killed and the power grid was partially knocked out.
In a next step after the sanctions against Russia, Ukraine's allies need to make a decision to seize the Russian assets that have been frozen in European bank accounts, Kristersson emphasizes.
The assets are held at a securities institution in Brussels, but Belgium has so far resisted calls to seize them, fearing Russia could make huge claims for damages at a later stage. Negotiations are underway on possible guarantees or ways to share the risk.
