Lipavský backs Sweden and Finland’s efforts to join in Nato in Stockholm

On a visit to Stockholm on Thursday the Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, said the Czech Republic fully supported Sweden and Finland in their plans to join NATO. Mr. Lipavský made the comment in a meeting with his Swedish counterpart, Ann Linde. The two ministers also discussed the reconstruction of Ukraine following Russia’s attack on the country and efforts by some Balkan and Eastern European states to become members of the European Union.

Mr. Lipavský and Ms. Linde also discussed the presidency of the Council of the EU; Sweden is due to take over after the Czechs’ six-month spell as president concludes at the end of this year.

Later Mr. Lipavský travelled to Helsinki, where he and his Finnish counterpart, Pekka Haavisto, condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.