Today I had the honor of welcoming Finland’s newly elected President, Alexander Stubb, to the Swedish Government Offices.

Sweden and Finland are now closer to each other than ever before. Today’s state visit from Finland is an expression of this.

In a time of geopolitical challenges, Nordic-Baltic cooperation is more important than ever. This year, 🇸🇪 and 🇫🇮 have a special role in closer regional security cooperation – 🇸🇪 coordinating the N5 and NB8 and 🇫🇮 through its Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

The Finnish State Visit starts today. HM The King will welcome President Stubb. Following a welcome ceremony at the Royal Palace, Mr Stubb will speak in the Riksdag, followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Kristersson and a business seminar. The day will end with a gala dinner.

Tomorrow, we welcome President Alexander Stubb and Suzanne Innes-Stubb to Sweden.

Follow the State Visit via the hashtag #SWEFIN

Today, Tobias Billström and Pål Jonson are taking part in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg #FAC . On the agenda:
- Russia’s aggression against Ukraine
- the situation in the Middle East
- Sudan

About the meeting⬇️
government.se/press-releases…

Excellent news from the Hill in DC tonight on the vote to support Ukraine 🇺🇦 This will bring much wanted aid to its fighting troops that are also fighting for our freedom. We are grateful to the people of the USA 🇺🇸 for their efforts.

But now is also the time to remember that

Global challenges require global solutions.

The World Bank is a key partner that enables Sweden’s new direction for development assistance.

Sweden is deeply committed to contributing to a better bank in order to end poverty on a liveable planet.

High-level Nordic-Baltic presence in DC. Excellent. Kudos, Secretary Janet Yellen

Very good news for Armenia 🇦🇲 and Azerbajdzjan 🇦🇿 and for the entire region of South Caucasus. From this positive development we might see a lot of progress arrive in the shape of economic development, infrastructure and growth for the region. Sweden 🇸🇪 is fully committed to this

I applaud my colleagues for their clear and strong stand in increasing the support to Ukraine 🇺🇦 Sweden 🇸🇪 is fully behind this approach.

Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock 🇩🇪
David Cameron 🇬🇧
Antonio Tajani 🇮🇹

I am very proud of my country’s clear stand on helping Ukraine to victory and the broad support this policy enjoys among our population: among the strongest one in the EU. 🇪🇺

Slava Ukraini!
🇸🇪💙🇺🇦
Dmytro Kuleba

Extremist settlers in the occupied #WestBank : EU Council sanctions 4⃣ individuals and 2⃣ entities (Lehava & Hilltop Youth) over serious #HumanRightsViolations or abuses against Palestinians 🇵🇸

Read more 👇
europa.eu/!V6KNn4

Crimeahrg receives this year’s #DemocracyDefender Award for extraordinary contribution to #humanrights in Crimea 🇺🇦. They have been documenting violations since Russia’s illegal annexation in 2014. #CrimeaIsUkraine

“Nothing is more important than hearing directly from the Ukrainian people and local actors such as the Ukrainian Red Cross – so that we can guide our efforts and act where it makes the biggest difference.”

Johan Forssell at the 'Through Ukrainian eyes' seminar in Stockholm. 🇸🇪🇺🇦

In Sweden, the popular support for Ukraine is among the strongest of all countries in Europe.

More than nine out of ten Swedes think that the EU should supply Ukraine with military equipment as well as humanitarian and economic support.

🇸🇪💛🇺🇦

Source: europa.eu/eurobarometer/…

It is horrendous to see Russia’s recent attacks against Ukrainian civilian & critical infrastructure. In Chernihiv yesterday, an attack by Russia killed at least 18 people & injured 77. Intentional attacks against civilians constitute war crimes. Russia will be held accountable.

This year’s Per Anger Prize, the Swedish Government’s international prize for human rights and democracy, goes to Sithar Chhim.

Ms Chhim fights for fair and better conditions for workers in Cambodia and is awarded the Prize for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights.

Read about Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström highlighting the risk of Russian oil tankers causing environmental havoc in the Baltic Sea. Enforcement of maritime rules is necessary to prevent a potential disaster. theguardian.com/world/2024/apr…