The Swedish government will soon instruct the Armed Forces to study the possibility of transferring Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, Swedish radio Ekot reports, citing its own sources.
“The government will soon instruct the Swedish Armed Forces to study the conditions for sending Gripen aircraft to Ukraine. Among other things, the government wants to get information on how the transfer will affect Sweden’s defense capabilities and how quickly Sweden will be able to receive new Gripen aircraft as compensation,” the radio said in a statement on its website on Tuesday.
As noted, another issue that needs to be assessed by the Swedish government is whether Ukrainian pilots and other ground personnel should be trained.
Sweden’s JAS 39 Gripen is a fourth-generation multi-role fighter jet. Formally, it belongs to the class of fighter jets, but it was conceived as a multi-purpose universal aircraft capable of performing various tasks.
In August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian pilots had begun training on the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet. Zelenskyy also informed about negotiations with the Swedish government to provide Ukraine with these aircraft.
Later, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that the country needed the planes for its own defense, as the country’s application to join the Alliance had not yet been finalized. At the same time, he did not rule out the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine in the future.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky together with his wife Olena Zelensky went on a working visit to Sweden.
“Working visit together with the first lady to Sweden. Meetings with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, King Carl XVI, Queen Silvia, Speaker Andreas Norlen and heads of parliamentary parties. Extensive Ukrainian-Swedish talks. I will personally thank Sweden for the support of our struggle for freedom and independence,” – said the head of state in his Telegram.
As the President noted, the primary task of the visit is to strengthen Ukrainian soldiers on the ground and in the sky, the development of bilateral cooperation, in particular in the defense industry, European integration of Ukraine and common security in the Euro-Atlantic space, as well as Sweden’s full support for Ukraine on its way to NATO.
“We are confident that together we will guarantee reliable peace in the entire Baltic-Black Sea-Azov region,” Zelensky wrote.
The Swedish Parliament has approved the transfer of an additional military aid package worth a total of 3.25 billion Swedish kronor (about 270 million euros) to Ukraine, the Riksdag press service reported.
“Parliament approved the donation of additional defense equipment to Ukraine. The authorization will give the government the right to decide on the donation to Ukraine of defense equipment in the form of spare parts and readiness goods worth no more than SEK 1.1 billion, as well as ammunition, demining equipment and vehicles worth no more than SEK 2.15 billion,” the statement said.
Parliament also decided to authorize the government to sell a limited number of missiles for Rb 99 (AMRAAM) fighter jets to the US. The US has launched a buy-back program for old AMRAAM variants in exchange for the same countries purchasing new AMRAAM missiles. The purpose of the program is to transfer the repurchased missiles to Ukraine to quickly strengthen the Ukrainian air defense system.
Swedish authorities are going to provide Ukraine with another $313 million military aid package to counter Russian full-scale aggression, Western media reported on Tuesday, citing Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson.
He said at a press conference that the package would include ammunition and spare parts for Leopard 2 tanks, CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles, Archer self-propelled artillery systems (SAU), as well as landmine clearance equipment and ammunition for air defense systems.
The minister added that the government was counting on a positive outcome of Thursday’s vote in the Swedish parliament to adopt this, already the 13th military aid package for Ukraine.
The mass media recall that the value of the previous tranches of military aid to Kiev amounted to $1.6bn. Sweden sent Archer SAU, at least 10 Stridsvagn main battle tanks, 122 Leopard 2A5 tanks, 50 CV-90 BMPs, RBS 70 man-portable surface-to-air missile systems, NLAW man-portable anti-tank missile systems, a significant number of components for Hawk and Iris-T air defense systems.
The Swedish government has presented the Strategy for the reconstruction of Ukraine for 2023-2027, and 6 billion Swedish kronor (€522.6m – Ministry of Economy) will be allocated for its implementation. This was announced by the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell during an online meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko, according to the website of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine on Saturday.
“The Swedish government has presented the Strategy for Cooperation on Recovery and Reforms in Ukraine for 2023-2027, which provides for the channeling of 6 billion Swedish kronor for projects to rebuild Ukraine. This is the largest bilateral aid program in Swedish history in terms of funding and it was Ukraine that became its recipient,” the report said.
“The funds will be used for infrastructure rehabilitation, green development, entrepreneurship, trade, demining, and media. We also welcome in the fact that the Swedish government will encourage large companies to enter and develop in Ukraine,” – said Yulia Sviridenko.
It is noted that the budget of the Strategy is distributed between the organizations responsible for the implementation of projects: the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) – 5.7 billion SWK, the Swedish Institute (SI) – 225 million SWK and Folke Bernadotte Academy (Folke Bernadotte Academy) – 75 million SWK.
Separately they discussed issues of war risk insurance, cooperation with MIGA, DFC.
“The Swedish side noted that it is working on solving the issue of insurance of Swedish companies and ensuring trade operations, because the Ukrainian market is promising for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries,” – emphasized in the message of the Department.
The Swedish presidency of the European Council officially announces the adoption of the tenth package of sanctions for Russia.
“A year has passed since Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Today the EU approved the 10th package of sanctions against Russia,” the presidency’s official Twitter page said.
It specifies that the package includes, for example, tougher export restrictions on dual-use and technology, targeted restrictive measures against individuals and entities that support the war, spread propaganda or deliver drones used by Russia in the war, and measures against Russian disinformation.
“Together, EU member states have imposed the most decisive and far-reaching sanctions in history to help Ukraine win the war. The EU is one with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” it said.
