On the contrary, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf visited Lviv this week in what the Swedish Royal House called a demonstration of “broad and unwavering support” for Ukraine — the first such royal visit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Sweden is among Ukraine’s largest donors, and the trip was intended to underscore that commitment.
Pro-Kremlin media outlets claimed the Swedish monarch had deliberately humiliated President Volodymyr Zelensky — refusing, in their telling, to shake the hand of “a comedian” — and presented the alleged incident as proof that Sweden had distanced itself from Ukraine.
Carl XVI Gustaf arrived in Lviv on April 17 alongside a Swedish government delegation — the first visit by a Swedish monarch to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. The king described the trip as a demonstration of “broad and unwavering support” for the country. Footage and photographs released by both the Swedish Royal House and the Ukrainian presidential office showed the two leaders greeting each other warmly, with no indication of the snub that pro-Kremlin outlets had described.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and President Volodymyr Zelensky laid flowers at the graves of fallen soldiers at the Field of Mars at Lychakiv Cemetery, where Ukrainian defenders have been buried since April 2022. The monarch also visited a rehabilitation center where Ukrainian military personnel are undergoing treatment and prosthetics fitting.
Talks between the Swedish king and the Ukrainian president took place at the Potocki Palace. Carl XVI Gustaf emphasized that Sweden “sincerely supports the courageous Ukrainians, and Ukraine has the full support” of his country. President Volodymyr Zelensky, in turn, noted that Sweden is one of the largest donors of assistance to Ukraine. The facts thus shatter all the narratives of Russian propaganda.
“Sweden is one of the five largest donors supporting our Armed Forces and our people. And in 2026 alone, Sweden has committed support worth 4 billion… In terms of financial contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, Sweden ranks second in Europe,” Zelensky emphasized.
In addition to his talks with the Ukrainian president, King Carl XVI Gustaf took a walk through Lviv, visited a local school, and held a meeting with representatives of the Swedish community in Ukraine.
Carl XVI Gustaf, who has been King of Sweden for more than 50 years, last visited Ukraine together with Queen Silvia 18 years ago. At that time, Viktor Yushchenko was president of Ukraine, and during the visit, the royal couple traveled not only to Kyiv but also to the Swedish community in the Kherson region.
In March 2022, Russian forces occupied Zmiivka. The village found itself on the front line, suffering heavy shelling, looting, and destruction. Many residents, including ethnic Swedes, were forced to leave. Since liberation, the village has been slowly recovering with Sweden’s support, though the ongoing military threat means that reconstruction is proceeding slowly.
We refuted a similar narrative about Sweden’s “war fatigue” regarding Ukraine in the article Fake: Sweden Will Pay 30,000 Euros to Ukrainian Refugees to Leave the Country.
