Sweden's foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard voiced concern that other countries may scale back bilateral aid to Ukraine now that the EU's 90 billion euro loan is finalized.
At the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Helsingborg, Malmer Stenergard raised the concerns. She fears several countries may lean back and refer to the EU loan instead of maintaining additional national support.
According to the minister, Sweden's commitments to Ukraine this year amount to about 33 billion kronor so far. The corresponding figure was 40 billion kronor last year.
Malmer Stenergard hopes for a German initiative where national contributions are added as extra support on top of the EU loan. She plans to bring up the issue at the meeting. Sweden also welcomes Germany's proposal that Ukraine first becomes an associate member on its path to EU membership.
