US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Friday with Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde to discuss how to maintain a spotlight on Russia’s actions in Ukraine, address the ongoing post-election crisis in Belarus, and advance the Minsk Group Co-Chair process to help Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiate a lasting and sustainable political settlement; this is noted in a statement attributable to US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price

“Secretary Blinken expressed U.S. support for Sweden’s OSCE Chairpersonship and its focus on achieving progress on the OSCE region’s protracted conflicts, strengthening climate security, and defending democratic principles.  Ahead of Foreign Minister Linde’s visit to Moscow, Secretary Blinken expressed concern for Russia’s continued efforts to suppress peaceful assembly and the arrest of opposition figure Aleksey Navalny.  He thanked Foreign Minister Linde for Sweden’s strong commitment to defending OSCE principles,” the statement also reads.