Sweden open to peacekeeping role in Ukraine, foreign minister says

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has stated that the first priority in resolving the conflict in Ukraine is to negotiate a "just and sustainable peace" that respects international law and ensures long-term stability.

"We must first now negotiate a fair and sustainable peace that respects international law, that respects Ukraine and that ensures above all else that Russia can't just withdraw and regroup and attack Ukraine or another country within a few years," Stenergard told Swedish Radio, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

"When we have such a peace in place, it will need to be maintained and for that our government is not ruling out anything," she said.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also indicated Sweden’s willingness to consider participation in post-war peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine, though he stressed that such a decision would depend on the progress of ongoing negotiations.

"We will take part in those discussions and of course that is absolutely a possibility," Kristersson said during a military exercise in Stockholm.

He emphasized, however, that any contribution would require a very clear mandate for the peacekeeping forces, which he believes cannot be fully defined until further progress is made in the diplomatic talks. "But Sweden, we are normally a part of strengthening security in our part of the world, so I foresee us to be a part of that this time as well," he said.

These comments come in the wake of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s statement that the UK is ready to send troops to Ukraine for peacekeeping duties, as he advocated for a greater European role in the ongoing discussions to end the war.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on February 16 ahead of expected talks with Russian officials to explore ways to bring an end to Moscow's nearly three-year war in Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva