When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj addresses parliaments around the world, he manages to establish a connection with his digital hosts, with traditions, old wounds or new fears.

It was the same when Selenskyi was switched to the Swedish Reichstag on Thursday.

He not only began his speech by stating that it was no accident that the colors blue and yellow adorned the Ukrainian and Swedish flags, and that these colors now stand everywhere for the struggle for freedom, for justice.

It also touched on Swedish fears.

Matthias Wysuwa

Political correspondent for northern Germany and Scandinavia based in Hamburg.

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Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has been the subject of a debate about its own security.

Like its neighbor Finland, it has close ties to NATO but is not a member.

Many Swedes would like that to change - a poll published on Thursday showed that almost 60 percent of Swedes support NATO membership should Finland decide to do so.

Only 17 percent opposed it.

Without Finland, 41 percent would still be in favor of membership.

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson visited Swedish soldiers who are taking part in NATO's Cold Response exercise in Norway this week, but is otherwise very reserved in the debate.

With her in Norway was Ulf Kristersson, the leader of the bourgeois opposition and a vehement supporter of NATO membership.

Zelenskyj did not interfere in this domestic political debate.

He instead commended the Swedes for their early support of Ukraine and for Sweden's historic decision to supply arms.

In addition to financial aid, the kingdom had already delivered 5,000 rocket-propelled grenades, and Stockholm had promised another 5,000 on Wednesday.

Selenskyj reported on the horror of the war, the destruction in his country and the suffering.

Everything that is valued in peaceful Europe is at stake.

He reminded the Swedes that only the Baltic Sea separates them from aggressive action by Russia.

And that Russian propagandists had already spoken openly on television about the possibility of occupying the Swedish island of Gotland in the center of the Baltic Sea and ruling it for decades.

Zelenskyj called for tougher sanctions and help with post-war reconstruction.

Then there was standing applause.

And Andersson thanks him on Twitter for the "powerful words of a courageous leader".