Sweden's Defense Minister Urged Europe To Go "into War Mode"

• 19.10.2025, 20:05

We need to tighten sanctions against Russia.

Europe must be prepared for a possible war with Russia both morally and technically, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson said in an interview with the RND, noted The Moscow Times.

"There needs to be a change of mentality: we must go into 'war mode' to decisively deter the threat, protect and preserve the peace. Russia is constantly testing our unity and resolve. But Putin will not succeed. The current security situation has sharpened our vigilance," Jonsson said. He said 90 percent of the Swedish population supports this course, advocating increased defense spending and also wants to maintain or expand aid to Ukraine. "Proximity to Russia has taught us one thing: peace is not a gift, peace is something we must defend every day," Jonson said.

He urged European allies to increase military supplies to Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Russia. According to Jonson, restrictions on the Kremlin's energy sector and "shadow fleet" should be strengthened first, and Russia's frozen assets should be used to invest in Ukraine's defense. "Only in this way will Putin realize that this war threatens his own power and cannot be won," the minister stressed. He added that Russia is unable to succeed on the battlefield: in the past year, "more than 300,000 of its soldiers have been killed or wounded" for the sake of capturing "less than 0.5% of Ukraine's territory."

Johnson also called on allies to strike back if Russian fighter jets and drones invade NATO territory. "We are a defensive alliance, it is true, and our measures are well thought out and proportionate, but we will always respond. Russia should know: if its warship or fighter jet invades our airspace or waters, we will be forced to expel it, and if circumstances require it, even shoot it down," the minister said.