Fast into NATO because of Putin?

Sweden statement makes you sit up and take notice

Created: 05/11/2022 04:46

Sweden and Finland increasingly see Russia as a threat.

So far, Sweden has been hesitant about joining NATO.

That sounds different now.

The news ticker.

• Escalated Ukraine conflict

  : Sweden could change its mind about

  joining NATO

  - for fear of Russian aggression.

• Ukrainian

  President Zelenskyy calls on Malta

  to stop granting privileges to Russia.

• EU oil embargo

  on

  Russia

  this week

  ?: An

  EU oil embargo on Russia

  over

  the Ukraine war could come this week.

• This

  news ticker on Russia-Ukraine negotiations and international efforts

  is continuously updated.

Update from May 10, 8:50 p.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has asked Malta to take stricter action against Russians hiding in the smallest EU country.

Speaking for 10 minutes in front of the Valletta Parliament on Tuesday, Zelenskyy, speaking from Ukraine, said: "Stop privileges for Russia, starting with the Golden Passport system and dual citizenship.

Don't let them abuse your island.

Find out which Russians are trying to hide.”

For years, wealthy foreigners could get a passport in Malta if they invested money in the Mediterranean island.

Many Russians also took advantage of the opportunity.

Critics complained that rich people could buy such a passport for the European Union.

However, after the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the controversial procedure for Russians and Belarusians was suspended.

Zelenskyy also pushed for a full EU embargo on Russian oil, while acknowledging that Malta would suffer.

The neutral country has one of the largest shipping registers in the world;

many ships flying the Maltese flag transport Russian oil.

The island state is therefore trying to find a compromise in the EU negotiations on an oil boycott.

French President Macron talks to Hungary's prime minister about a possible oil embargo against Russia

Update from May 10, 5:18 p.m .:

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about a possible oil embargo against Russia.

The purpose of the talks was "to come to an agreement on the sixth package of sanctions as quickly as possible," it said on Tuesday from the Elysée Palace.

Orban's spokesman confirmed that both leaders discussed "energy security issues".

Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian oil and has so far blocked a decision by the EU states on an oil embargo against Russia because of the Ukraine invasion, which would require unanimity.

Ukraine negotiations: NATO entry soon?

Johnson visits Finland and Sweden

Update from May 10, 4:15 p.m .:

Before the upcoming NATO decisions in Finland and Sweden, the two Nordic countries will be visited by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The head of government will travel to the two countries on Wednesday, his office said on Tuesday.

The Swedish government said Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson would receive Johnson for advice on, among other things, the security situation in Europe.

A joint press conference is planned for the early afternoon. 

Johnson is due to meet Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki.

According to information from Niinistö's office, the two will then appear before the press there as well.

Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has triggered intense debates in Finland and Sweden about joining NATO.

There are many indications that both countries will soon apply for NATO membership.

Great Britain is a founding member of NATO and, as a nuclear power, is one of the most important pillars of the alliance.

Ukraine negotiations: Zelenskyj warns EU countries against cooperation with Russia

Update from May 10, 3:20 p.m .:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has warned Slovakia and other EU countries against further cooperation with Russia.

As a result, they are threatened with a fate similar to that which Ukraine is currently suffering, he said in a video message to the Slovakian parliament in Bratislava on Tuesday (May 10).

He understands that Slovakia finds it difficult to do without Russian gas imports.

However, Ukrainian politicians used to argue in a similar way and allowed the Black Sea Fleet to be stationed in large quantities in exchange for cheap gas.

Members of the National Council of the Slovak Republic applaud during a virtual address by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.

© Pavol Zachar/TASR/dpa

As expected, Selenskyj called on Slovakia to deliver more armaments such as combat aircraft and helicopters and to impose tougher sanctions on Russia.

"If we don't stop the Russian army, it will keep advancing, including on Slovakia's territory," he said.

He ended his speech with the battle cry "Slava Ukrajini" (Glory to Ukraine).

The Slovak MPs rose to prolonged applause.

However, several opposition rows remained empty because left-wing and right-wing extremist MPs boycotted the session.

Former Prime Minister Robert Fico, head of the largest opposition party, Social Democracy, had warned that Zelenskyy wanted to drag Slovakia into a war in which it could only lose.

Update from May 10, 3:07 p.m .:

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has criticized an EU oil embargo against Russia because of the Ukraine war.

"We must not allow the sanctions to damage our own social and economic systems," he demanded after a meeting with his Czech colleague Milos Zeman.

It is important to take into account the special features of the individual EU member states.

Bulgaria is one of the countries that insist on an exception to an oil embargo.

Ukraine negotiations: Russian cyber attack shortly before the Ukraine invasion also affected EU countries

Update from May 10, 2:08 p.m .:

According to EU information, a Russian cyber attack against Ukraine shortly before the start of the war also had an impact on the member countries.

The attack took place an hour before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and facilitated military aggression, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday on behalf of the EU.

The attack had significant repercussions.

It has led to communication failures and disruptions in several authorities, companies and users in Ukraine.

Several EU countries were also affected.

According to the financial regulator Bafin, the risk of cyber attacks on German financial companies has also increased in Germany.

Ukraine negotiations: Transport ban on Russian oil apparently off the table

Update from May 10, 1:56 p.m .:

According to EU circles, the planned transport ban on Russian oil is no longer part of the planned sanctions package against Russia.

The German Press Agency learned from diplomats that further coordination at international level and in the G7 group was necessary.

Greece, Cyprus and Malta, among others, had resisted the measure because they feared that this could unilaterally disadvantage their shipping companies.

A ban on European companies from insuring oil tankers transporting Russian oil is still part of the planned sanctions, according to the diplomats.

This could make it more difficult for Russia to supply oil to other countries.

The discussions about the planned EU sanctions package have been going in circles for days.

Hungary in particular is blocking a proposed embargo on Russian oil imports and is demanding extensive exceptions.

Diplomatic circles said that the sanctions will probably not be on the agenda at the regular meeting of the permanent representatives of the EU countries on Wednesday either.

One is still waiting for progress in talks with the states that would be particularly affected by the import ban.

Ukraine negotiations?

Fast into NATO because of Putin?

Sweden statement makes you sit up and take notice

STOCKHOLM - Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist has long been expressly opposed to Sweden joining NATO - but his recent statements could indicate that he is changing his mind.

Sweden and Finland joining NATO would benefit the defense of northern Europe, he said on Swedish radio on Tuesday (May 10).

Should the countries decide to join NATO, it would strengthen the North's joint military capabilities, Hultqvist said.

You can then use the strengths and advantages of the others and complement each other.

NATO membership with joint defense planning and monitoring of the Baltic Sea would reduce the risk of something happening around the Baltic and on the strategic island of Gotland.

Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist could rethink NATO membership.

The reason is the Ukraine war.

© Claudio Bresciani/afp

Ukraine negotiations: Russia's invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point for Sweden

The Social Democrat left his current position on Sweden's NATO membership open.

However, he pointed out that the Ukraine war had changed many things.

"There is one before February 24 and one after," he said, referring to the day Russian President Vladimir Putin's army invaded Ukraine.

The Social Democrats, who rule alone in Sweden, want to announce their NATO position on Sunday.

This is considered to be a key indicator of whether the Scandinavian country will make efforts to join NATO in the near future.

Ukraine negotiations: EU oil embargo against Russia later this week?

Meanwhile, in the struggle for an EU oil embargo against Russia, an agreement between the member states is getting closer.

An agreement is possible "this week" and is "a matter of days," France's Europe Minister Clément Beaune told LCI on Tuesday.

Beaune also announced telephone calls from French President Emmanuel Macron, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for Tuesday.

Von der Leyen traveled to the Hungarian capital Budapest on Monday for talks with Orban about an EU oil embargo against Russia and then spoke of "progress".

Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian oil and has so far blocked a decision by the EU states to stop oil from Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine, for which unanimity would be required.

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