I would like a clearer, longer-term commitment from the US for Ukraine, Kristersson tells TT.
The Prime Minister is in Berlin for a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and has also spoken at the Berlin Security Conference.
At a joint press conference, the leaders announced that the countries are now expanding their strategic partnership to areas such as foreign and security policy, aid and migration. Sweden and Germany already have close cooperation in the field of defense, which will be further deepened.
In four weeks, EU leaders will try to agree on using frozen Russian state assets to finance a giant loan to Ukraine, to help the country cope economically and militarily in the coming years. In October, Belgium, where most of the money is held at the securities institution Euroclear, blocked the deal, fearing huge damages claims from Russia.
No "paragraph riders"
Kristersson and Merz, who are both in favor of releasing the Russian money, are hopeful.
"I don't dare to commit any decisions. But it is well prepared," the Prime Minister says in an interview with TT at the Swedish embassy.
But are the other countries prepared to share the risk, as Belgium wants?
It is Russia that has illegally attacked Ukraine. Should we then be paraphrasing? Then we should think this through. There are a number of questions to answer, but I believe and hope that they will be answered before December 18 (when the summit is held).
Wishing for a good US relationship
Trump is giving mixed signals about Ukraine and how a future peace process should proceed. How do you relate to that as a European leader?
There is no doubt that we prefer a United States that clearly signals support for Ukraine and tough demands against Russia rather than, as it sometimes sounds a little the other way, tough demands on Ukraine and a certain understanding of Russia, says Kristersson.
Then we are keen to have a good relationship with the US. We may have slightly different opinions, but if we want to maintain a strong transatlantic link, the best thing we can do now is to show that we take our security very seriously. Then I would like a clearer, longer-term commitment from the US to Ukraine.
Crown Princess Victoria is also participating in the Swedish delegation. Victoria and Kristersson were received outside the Chancellery by the German Armed Forces Band, which played the Swedish national anthem.
