Sweden announced on Friday new military aid to Ukraine worth 2.2 billion Swedish crowns (190 million euros)and confirmed that it is considering sending Gripen fighters to support Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion.
“We are preparing for a long war and must therefore shape our support in a sustainable and long-term manner,” Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said at a press conference.
Much of this aid consists of 155mm artillery shells, as well as ammunition and spare parts for the weapon systems that Sweden has already sent to Ukraine.
Sweden will also provide satellite and infantry communications equipment and train Ukrainian soldiers.
With this fourteenth military support programme, Sweden will have supplied military equipment worth approximately 22.2 billion Swedish kronor, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The government has also asked the Swedish military to provide a report by November 6 on the conditions for a possible deployment of Gripen fighter jets in Ukraine.
Ukrainian pilots have already successfully completed initial training on Gripen fighters in anticipation of this possible assistance.
For Sweden to be able to supply the Gripen fighters, it must be a member of NATO, according to the government.
“We believe we must be included in the Alliance’s defense plans and covered by NATO’s defense guarantees” to send the fighters, Jonson explained.
Hungary and Turkey have lifted their veto on Sweden’s accession to the Atlantic Alliance, but are slow to ratify their NATO membership.
The military offensive that Russia launched in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 caused the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II (1939-1945), according to the most recent UN data.
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin on the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by most of the international community, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and impose political and economic sanctions on Russia.
Source: DN
