Swedish foreign minister to meet Russian counterpart

Wallström said no date had been set for the meeting but that she expected to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the near future. Wallström said there are a number of topics up for discussion.

“I think we have quite a long agenda,” Wallström told Swedish Radio. “There are bilateral relations and how we view certain conflicts and Russia’s and Sweden’s role in cooperating at the UN Security Council. And, of course, also the EU and Russia.”

Sweden’s relations with Russia have been frosty since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and backed separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine. There have also been a number of incidents in recent years where Russian military planes have violated Swedish airspace.

Wallström added that the situation in Ukraine will be brought up at the meeting, as well as security around the Baltic Sea.

“It is clear that we will talk about it – the security situation around the Baltic. And also how we can cooperate going forward. And that’s everything from people-to-people contacts, our trade and our relations in general, to defense policy,” Wallström said.

Related stories from around the North:

Canada: Freeze or thaw? What Freeland’s appointment means for Russia-Canada relations in the Arctic, Radio Canada International

Denmark:  Nordics to step up security cooperation on perceived Russian threat, Yle News

Norway:  Law of the Sea and International Law is the “Constitution” of the Arctic says Norway’s foreign minister, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia:  Russia invites Arctic Council on icebreaker tour, The Independent Barents Observer

Sweden: Sweden’s foreign minister still undecided on Barents Council meeting in Russia, Radio Sweden

United States: Arctic Council – 20 years in a warming world, Deutsche Welle’s Iceblogger