Sweden, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has announced its readiness to designate Russia's Wagner Special Military Group on the bloc's terrorism list.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper on Thursday that Sweden was ready to work towards "reaching a consensus within the EU to place Wagner on the EU's list of terrorist organisations as soon as the legal conditions are met."
The foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries will meet in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Friday.
Pielström said the Wagner Group had committed "egregious violations, especially in Sudan, Mali, Syria and Ukraine."
"For the group to be subject to EU sanctions related to terrorist organisations, an equivalent competent national judicial or authority, such as a court or prosecutor, must decide to open an investigation against or charge the group," he said.
On Tuesday, France's National Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the French government to "mobilize diplomatically" to include Wagner on the list in order to punish its members and supporters more effectively, particularly financially.
In March, the Lithuanian parliament adopted a resolution calling Wagner a "terrorist organisation", a move welcomed by Ukraine.