Why do some rulers say invasion and others do not?

The Swedish Prime Minister belongs to the group that does not want to use the disputed word.  

- What Russia has done is completely unacceptable and a clear violation of international law.

It is a clear aggression, but like all Western leaders I know, I have not used the word invasion in this situation, said Magdalena Andersson (S) in Aktuellt. 

That Andersson does not want to use the word has provoked reactions from the Moderates.

- I think it is important to speak plain text.

If you go into another country, it is an invasion.

Russia continues what they have begun before and continues quite obviously to make further invasion of the country, said party leader Ulf Kristersson in P1-morgon.

"It's about diplomacy"

The fact that the majority of those in power, including Magdalena Andersson, choose not to say invasion is due to the fact that the USA and the EU have agreed that a large sanction package will be triggered if Russia invades.

That is the opinion of Magnus Christiansson, who is a senior lecturer in Military Science at the Swedish National Defense College. 

- In order not to start that mechanism before everyone agrees that this is what is happening, you do not use that word.

It is simply a matter of diplomacy, he says. 

Magnus Christiansson believes that the view of what constitutes an invasion can differ from country to country, which further contributes to the word becoming controversial and its use being seen as sensitive.  

- Probably the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs have listened to some international law lawyer or adviser who has said that they should avoid that word, Christiansson says.

Saves gunpowder

In addition, some countries are more anxious to initiate sanctions policy than others, according to the senior lecturer.  

- You do not want to use that word because it can create expectations that you should trigger the sanction package, he says. 

The sanctions against Russia that the EU announced yesterday are only part of the planned measures against the country, Christiansson says. 

- So that you have more gunpowder if the escalation continues.

See which rulers use the word invasion - and which avoid it - in the clip above.