Russian invasion

Russian reactions
Russian Foreign Ministry to Sweden: You are escalating the Ukraine war

The Russian Foreign Ministry is making a threatening statement against Sweden after the announcement that 16 Gripen planes are being donated to Ukraine, according to SVT's Ukraine correspondent Elin Jönsson.

They call it "another unfriendly step that will affect the already very bad relations" between Russia and Sweden, and add that it will also affect Sweden's security situation, without specifying.

The ministry also accuses Sweden of "deliberately escalating the war in Ukraine".
 

The world's response
Kallas' warning: Don't fall into Russia's trap

The EU must not be misled by Russia's statements about who should represent the member states in a future peace negotiation on Ukraine. This was stated by the Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Thursday, Deutsche Welle reports.

A few weeks ago, Russia suggested that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder – a known Putin ally – could represent the EU in peace negotiations. But Kallas dismisses such statements as mere showmanship.

“It’s a trap that Russia wants to lure us into, that we discuss who should talk to them while they choose the right people,” says Kallas.