A News Agency

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson outlined his strategic priorities in three main areas following the EU summit in Brussels.

Criticizing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for refusing to participate in loans and aid payments for Ukraine, Kristersson said: "This is unacceptable but not surprising. EU cooperation must be based on trust."

Kristersson stated that he is working in alignment with Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz and that Sweden is ready, through its Civil Defence Agency, to repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The Prime Minister noted that conflicts in the Middle East have raised energy prices similarly to the oil crisis of the 1970s, saying: "With Iran bombing a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facility in Qatar, nearly 20 percent of global production capacity has been taken offline. Repairs are expected to take years."

Recalling that, unlike the rest of Europe, Sweden generates most of its electricity from hydro, nuclear, and wind power, Kristersson pointed to a production gap in the southern regions.

He added that due to the closure of nuclear power plants, Sweden is forced to import expensive gas-based electricity from Germany and Poland during periods without wind, stating: "The conclusion is quite clear: we must make Sweden completely independent from natural gas prices."