Ygeman (S) has been in contact with several ministerial colleagues in the Nordic countries and other EU countries to talk about the proposal that he intends to present to the Council of Ministers to take a position on.
- As long as the Russian aggression continues, I want the EU to make a decision that we will not have any participation in Russian events and we will exclude Russian professional practitioners from participating in events in other countries, Ygeman tells TT.
- I want to put further pressure on the regime that has now started a war against a neighboring country.
This is a military aggression that we have not seen on the continent since the Second World War.
"Tried to use the sport"
The Swedish Minister of Sports, who is also the Minister of Migration, says that he wants to impose harsh sanctions on Russia in all areas to stop Russia's warfare against Ukraine.
- But sport is one of Putin's cornerstones and he has also tried to use sport for his leadership.
Then it is also natural that we use sports to manifest against Putin, says Ygeman.
The International Olympic Committee and the Nordic sports federations have asked the international sports federations to cancel or move competitions and matches from Russia.
If the EU agrees to Anders Ygeman's proposal, he sees it as a further step in the boycott against Russia.
- There are two steps.
Because then European athletes can not participate in Russia, which one can imagine that maybe some might have wanted.
And the second step is that, during the time of the aggression, professional Russian athletes are excluded from participating, he says.
Quick decision
Ygeman hopes for a quick decision in the EU.
- If we get support for this issue, I hope it can happen quickly, because the war is going on now.
I also believe that if the Russian aggression continues, we will see more sanctions in other areas as well.
We in the EU are doing everything we can to stop the war.