Magdalena Anderson on Ukraine: Shooting solves nothing

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson was in Helsinki on Wednesday for meetings with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President Sauli Niinistö. The agenda included security issues.

According to Magdalena Anderson, we are currently experiencing increased tension in our immediate area, and therefore we must be vigilant.

– In addition to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we have the situation on the border between Poland and Belarus which is very worrying. We also see how Russia uses its gas exports for political pressure. So this is all the reason for increased vigilance but also increased cooperation within Europe on these issues, but also with the UK and the US, says Magdalena Anderson.

met last week The foreign ministers of the United States and Russia are in Sweden To discuss the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a videoconference meeting on the same issue.

Magdalena Anderson believes it The solution must be continued calls to reduce tensions in the region.

– We need to escalate the dialogue. It says that it is through dialogue, not through gunfire, that these issues can be resolved.

In 2021 Sweden chairs the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which last week hosted a meeting of foreign ministers outside Stockholm. As chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Sweden had the task of contributing to increased dialogue, according to Magdalena Andersson.

How worried are you that the conflict will escalate?

– It’s a worrying situation and that’s why we have to be vigilant. That’s why we need a dialogue, because that’s how this can be resolved, says Magdalena Anderson.