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The Foreign Minister on the USA: "A Lump in the Stomach"

Look at what the USA does – not what is said. This is the message from Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (The Moderate Party) who urges calm and coolness after an extraordinary meeting about the situation in Ukraine. I have a decent-sized ice lump in my stomach.

» Published: February 18 2025

The Foreign Minister on the USA: "A Lump in the Stomach"
Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) has informed all parliamentary parties about the "serious situation" in Ukraine on Monday.

On Tuesday, Russia and the USA discussed Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, without Ukraine or European countries participating.

I cannot consider it as negotiations at this stage, says Malmer Stenergard at a press conference after the meeting.

Nothing can be negotiated about Ukraine without Ukraine, she continues and reiterates her previous demand that Europe must be at the negotiating table.

"Credible Article 5"

According to the Russian delegation, the talks in Saudi Arabia went well. The Foreign Minister does not give much credence to the Russian version.

I do not think it says anything about the talks that were held. Russia wants to create a facade that serves their purposes.

I consider it as initial talks. I do not perceive, based on the talks I had in Munich, that any negotiations are underway yet.

The Foreign Minister participated in the security conference in Munich last week and has had meetings with, among others, the USA's Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj.

Malmer Stenergard does not think that the security policy situation in Sweden has changed over the past week. She brings up Article 5, which means that member states are obliged to help an attacked NATO country.

We have a credible Article 5 in NATO, and my assessment is that the USA stands behind it.

"Lump in the Stomach"

On the other hand, several countries in Europe have now realized the seriousness and importance of investing in defense, she says.

I think that's fundamentally good and increases the prerequisites for us to get the USA on board.

She also believes it is important to distinguish between what is said from the American side and what is actually done.

Then I see that the USA is a credible and strong partner in NATO.

She takes as an example the USA's sanctions against Russia, that the USA is the largest provider of military support to Ukraine, and that the USA's Foreign Minister has said that the country wants to deepen cooperation with Sweden in NATO.

I still have a big lump in my stomach. And we should maintain that.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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