Ulf Kristersson

The second Summit for Democracy is taking place on 29–30 March. Sweden is represented at the virtual summit and several side events by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

Today, a total of €7 billion were pledged by the international community at the ‘Together for the people of Türkiye and Syria’ International Donors’ Conference, co-hosted by the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, and by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, for the Swedish Presidency of the Council.

Today, Monday 20 March, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission hosted an International Donors’ Conference in support of the people affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. At the Conference, Sweden presented its total support of approximately EUR 45 million. Pledges made at the Conference totalled approximately EUR 7 billion.

Opening remarks by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the International Donors’ Conference in support of the people in Türkiye and Syria on 20 March in Brussels. Check against delivery.

On Monday 20 March, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will attend the international donors’ conference in Brussels. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU initiated the donors’ conference to help the people in Türkiye and Syria affected by the earthquakes.

On 28 February, Croatia took over the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from Sweden. The main priorities of the Swedish Presidency were to contribute to strengthening the structure of the IHRA and increase the organisation’s impact.

Speech by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at Hertie School in Berlin on 15 March 2023. Check against delivery.

On Tuesday 7 March, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. In connection with the visit, Mr Kristersson invited the leaders of the parties in the Riksdag who support Sweden’s NATO accession to a joint meeting with Mr Stoltenberg. At an extraordinary government meeting on Tuesday evening, the Government also took the formal decision to present the NATO bill to the Riksdag.

Earthquakes: The European Commission and the Swedish Council Presidency will host an International Donors’ Conference in support of the people in Türkiye and Syria on 20 March in Brussels.

(Updated) On Tuesday 7 March, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will hold a press briefing with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The briefing will take place after the meeting between Mr Stoltenberg and the party leaders in the Riksdag supporting Sweden’s application to join NATO.

On Friday 24 February, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave a speech at Sergels torg during the demonstration ‘Sverige står upp för Ukraina’ (Sweden stands with Ukraine) to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Check against delivery.

On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU is toughening its sanctions against Russia. This is the first sanctions package adopted under the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The new sanctions include measures such as expanded export restrictions on technological and industrial products vital to Russia’s economy and military capability.

Today, 24 February, the Government presented a new extensive support package for Ukraine. It includes subsystems of the HAWK anti-aircraft system and essential parts of the IRIS-T anti-aircraft system, in cooperation with Germany. Sweden also intends to provide up to ten Leopard 2 battle tanks.

One year ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Sweden has provided humanitarian, military and civil support to Ukraine. Sweden’s military support to Ukraine has more than tripled since the current Government took office. Over the last twelve months, the EU – including Sweden – has adopted a series of sweeping sanctions packages against Russia Sweden will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Statement by the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Statement from the trilateral meeting between Finland, Norway and Sweden at Harpsund, Sweden, 22 February 2023.

Under the leadership of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, an EU Working Group will be set up to look at using frozen Russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, have today announced their intention to host a Donors’ Conference, in coordination with the Turkish authorities, to mobilise funds from the international community in support for the people of Türkiye and Syria following this week’s devastating earthquake. The event would be hosted in March in Brussels.

Since December 2021, disinformation has been spread concerning Swedish social services taking Muslim children into care without a legal basis. According to the Swedish Psychological Defence Agency, there are no indications that the campaign will cease in the near future. Social services employees are being threatened and, in the worst case scenario, this risks leading to children in Sweden not receiving the social support to which they are entitled. The Government is now taking several measures to counteract the disinformation that is being disseminated.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Stockholm on 3 February for talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.