Russia's neighbours 'in danger', Ukraine president warns

Russia will "destroy freedom" in Europe and pursue its neighbours, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Swedish lawmakers in an address on Thursday.

"If Ukraine wouldn't endure and protect ourselves, it would mean that... all neighbours of Russia are in danger from now on," he said in a video link speech that got a standing ovation.

"Russia went to war against Ukraine because they want to advance further in Europe, they want to destroy freedom in Europe.

"This is a fundamental challenge for the European security and defence system", he said, calling for Europe to issue hard-hitting weekly sanctions packages against Russia.

He warned Sweden that Moscow had its Baltic Sea island of Gotland in its sights.

Sweden reopened its garrison on Gotland in 2018, in the wake of Russia's annexation of Crimea, after shutting it down in 2004.

"It would mean that you are in danger, because it is only the sea that divides you and this aggressive policy", he said.

"Russian propagandists already discuss on air, on TV broadcasts, how Russia will occupy Gotland and how they will control it for decades", he added.

"They think it would be comfortable to put anti-defence systems and bases there...