Rose bath
Zelenskyi was received as a star - but one thing no one wanted to talk about
Oisin Cantwell
News columnist
This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.
Published 2024-05-31 16.18
It was the prepared story's press conference.
And Volodomyr Zelenskyy entered Rosenbad with the confidence that only an international superstar possesses.
Black t-shirt, green military pants, bright sneakers, this is not a man who cares about petty-bourgeois conventions and unspoken demands for a suit and tie.
- This morning, 75 Ukrainians were rescued from Russian captivity, he began by telling.
It was a Nordic summit on security with a celebrity visit in the form of the president of Ukraine and the air was so filled with solidarity with a nation fighting for its survival that a pale Jimmie Åkesson in an interview backed away from earlier dog whistling about a cap on the Swedish economic and military the support.
Earlier in the morning there was a "doorstep and photo opportunity on arrival at Rosenbad", as it is called in modern Swedish.
50 reporters and photographers on site in the foyer, from Sweden, the neighboring countries and Ukraine, it was hot and stuffy and everything was delayed.
A press gnome in a nice dark blue suit tried to explain the rules of the event in English, nobody listened, a Finnish radio woman swore that the technology didn't work, a Norwegian TV photographer tried to help her and left his place, which a team from Copenhagen seasonedly and cheekily took over .
Then came Ulf Kristersson Then came Ulf Kristersson and a former comedian who has become a world-famous symbol for a country's defense and fight against an imperialist superpower.
Half an hour after the appointed time, the politicians sat down, signed an agreement that Sweden and Ukraine entered into security cooperation, shook hands, smiled, photo opportunity.
An optimistic reporter asked a question, but got no answer, there was going to be a press conference a few hours later.
The entire area outside Rosenbad was cordoned off, through the window I saw a woman on a park bench with a cup of coffee in her hand being driven away by a security guard, police in boats and on jet skis patrolling up and down Riddarfjärden.
The swarm of reporters and photographers was herded back to the hall in Rosenbad intended for journalists. A couple of hours of waiting, during which there was time to delve into the 16th and latest Swedish military support package for Ukraine.
It is a commendable investment by the Swedish government. 13 billion is spent on strengthening Ukraine's air defense, the package includes reconnaissance aircraft, armored vehicles, tank vehicles, ammunition and a lot of other things.
It is, say people who know far more than I do about war, a well-thought-out package that meets Ukraine's needs.
No wonder Zelensky looked satisfied when he made his entrance again at 1 p.m.
Ulf Kristersson gave a presentation on support packages and hopes that Ukraine will be admitted to NATO, and then it was time for the journalists' questions.
Time for the prepared story's press conference.
Because the time for questions was severely limited, and it was just a matter of forgetting subtleties like solidarity can take different forms and that support for Ukraine is also about supporting the Ukrainians who have fled to Sweden.
No space was thus given to the large survey that was conducted in January with these refugees and which showed that half of the adult refugees have a job and earn an average of SEK 12,500 after tax.
The half who have not found work can get by on less than SEK 2,000 a month.
Reuters wanted comment on reports that the United States approved the use of American weapons against targets on Russian territory.
Zelensky gave a long presentation, switching between English and Ukrainian, we journalists had headphones and could listen to a translation.
The next question went to Danish radio, something about 16 airplanes that Denmark donated, and I found myself sitting and thinking about the letter that elderly Ukrainians have recently received from the Migration Agency.
They are requested to submit information about their pension in their home country. A pension that is, as a rule, very low, which does not prevent their daily allowance, 71 kroner, the lowest in the Nordic countries, from being able to be lowered.
Ukrainian TV wanted to know something about his country's mobilization of men, Zelensky went off on a harangue about a new law that has taken effect.
With considerable probability, the president of Ukraine does not know a bit about the pain that the Swedish government has felt over the well-founded criticism of the stingy treatment of compatriots who have fled here.
An agony that is possibly the explanation that a law change that is claimed to be generous has been flaunted in press releases time and time again:
"Ukrainians' living conditions in Sweden are strengthened" (May 30).
"The living conditions for Ukrainians in Sweden must be improved" (May 28).
"The living conditions of Ukrainians in Sweden must be improved" (April 10).
The press room was packed to capacity, but only a small number of media were allowed to ask their questions.
Last out was SVT, which of course had something more current on its mind than snidely pointing out that the allegedly generous amendment to the law does not give Ukrainians the right to child support and housing allowance - benefits that refugees from other countries who are registered in Sweden are entitled to.
The press conference of the arranged story was over in half an hour, Zelensky smiled, thanked and left.
For security reasons, the journalists were not allowed to leave the building before the Ukrainian cortege left, another half hour passed, the irritation grew, there was muttering and swearing in various Scandinavian languages.
But then a guard came and let us out into the freedom that a country not far from Sweden is fighting to defend with blood, sweat and tears.
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