Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson is calling for a significantly harder response to what he identifies as Russia’s presumed hybrid attacks across Europe. Speaking to “Die Welt”, he noted that Sweden has been observing a clear Russian escalation, citing incidents such as the foiled drone attack in Leipzig in August. Jonson believes Russia is willing to accept “larger political and military risks,” likely because its military performance in Ukraine is currently not particularly successful.
According to Jonson, Russia’s objective is to create division within Europe and prevent the continent from continuing its support for Ukraine. When asked about this, the Defence Minister stated that the response must be delivered “with all intensity,” insisting that there must be “serious and noticeable consequences” to deter such behavior in the future.
Beyond widening and enforcing existing sanctions against Russia, Sweden is advocating for restrictions on issuing Schengen visas to Russian citizens, a matter currently under discussion at the EU level. Furthermore, Jonson stressed the importance of a united approach against the “shadow fleet” operating in the Baltic Sea, which Russia is using to bypass Western sanctions.
While Sweden is actively monitoring tankers and has already interdicted several suspicious ships, Jonson noted that Germany has been more reserved in its response thus far. He demanded a much stronger coordinated approach to ensure these measures are effective and truly impact the Russian energy market. He emphasized that Russia must experience the high costs associated with its actions.
Finally, regarding tensions involving US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Jonson urged Western allies to maintain unity. He insisted that all supporters of Ukraine must remain as robustly engaged as possible. He acknowledged the indispensable role of the United States, particularly in supplying interceptor missiles or providing systems like Starlink, but also stated that Europe could contribute more to Ukraine’s defense. Specifically, he suggested finding ways to utilize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s needs. If these funds were invested in the Ukrainian defense industry, Jonson warned that it could generate “enormous leverage.”
