Swedish Prime Minister Says Russia Important Neighbor With Common Interests

Swedish Prime Minister Says Russia Important Neighbor With Common Interests

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, in the context of his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has said that Russia and Sweden have common interests, and that it is important to maintain bilateral relations

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd April, 2019) Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, in the context of his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has said that Russia and Sweden have common interests, and that it is important to maintain bilateral relations.

On Monday, the Kremlin reported that Putin would meet with the presidents of Finland and Iceland, and the prime ministers of Sweden and Norway at the Arctic Forum in St. Petersburg, set for on April 9-10. The state of and prospects for bilateral relations, topical international matters and regional issues focusing on cooperation in the Arctic are expected to be discussed.

"Russia is an important country next to us, we have to take care of [our] relations. Therefore, I will meet with President Vladimir Putin next Tuesday. This will be the first meeting between the Swedish prime minister and the Russian president in many years. We have common interests," Lofven said in an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

At the same time, the prime minister noted that Sweden should improve its military capabilities amid the instability associated with the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Lofven also said that he would like to know the European Union's assessment of the energy, policy and security aspects of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project and their implications for Ukraine.

Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Russian gas giant Gazprom and five European companies. The twin pipeline is expected to deliver 55 billion cubic meters (1.9 trillion cubic feet) of Russian natural gas annually to the European Union. The pipeline project has been welcomed by some countries in Europe and opposed by others who raise concerns over the alleged danger of Europe's dependence on Russia and subsequent diminished transit role of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly reiterated that the pipeline is a purely commercial project.