The Swedish government voiced concern about Donald Trump‘s inauguration speech after he failed to mention Ukraine, according to Ukrainska Pravda, with Swedish Minister of Economy and Finance Elisabeth Svantesson saying she found it “troubling.”

Newsweek has reached out to the Trump transition team and Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Svantesson’s concern about Trump’s decision not to mention Ukraine in his inauguration speech in Washington, D.C., on Monday is significant because it indicates that there are growing fears in Europe for Ukraine. The new president has previously been critical of the amount of support Washington gives Kyiv, and the U.S. has been one of Ukraine’s top three supporters alongside Germany and the U.K. since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022. As of January 9, the U.S. has provided Kyiv with $65.9 billion in military assistance since February 24, 2022, according to the Department of State.

What To Know

In congratulatory messages to Trump, global leaders mentioned achieving peace and some brought up Ukraine, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, according to Reuters. However, Svantesson spoke of his failure to mention Ukraine directly while speaking to journalists in Brussels.

The newly reelected president declared the start of the “golden age of America” and spoke about signing a series of “historic executive orders,” declaring a national emergency at the southern border, bringing back manufacturing, and more. He also mentioned that he wants to be known as a “peacemaker and unifier.”

Svantesson’s concern comes as Trump is eager to begin peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, having previously said that he would end the war “within 24 hours” or more recently, in “100 days” of his inauguration. The president has also criticized the U.S.’ support for Kyiv in the past, pushing for Europe to shoulder more of the costs.

French President Emmanuel Macron also responded to Trump’s inauguration and urged Europe to prioritize support for Ukraine, pushing allies to “wake up.”

What People Are Saying

Swedish Minister of Economy and Finance Elisabeth Svantesson said: “What I was a bit concerned of when I listened to Trump – he didnʼt mention Ukraine. That’s troubling.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said: “We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders, or, more importantly, its own people.”

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Glenn Diesen, a Norwegian political scientist, wrote: “Trump recognizes NATO expansionism triggered the war in Ukraine and blames Biden for the foolish decision – This is great news for peace. Trump moves away from the “unprovoked invasion” narrative that was used to prevent a peaceful settlement and legitimize a long war.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “Since Mr. Trump repeatedly said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war, we as Turkey will do whatever necessary in this regard. We need to resolve this issue as soon as possible. This issue will be on our agenda with our talks with Mr. Trump, and we would take our steps accordingly. I wish Mr. Trump’s second term would bring good for all humanity.”

Emmanuel Macron told members of the French military on Monday: “What will we do in Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the Mediterranean? If they send their fighter jets from the Atlantic to the Pacific?”

What Happens Next

It is not clear if there will be changes to the U.S.’ support for Ukraine if and when peace negotiations with Russia begin, and if other European countries like Sweden voice concerns.