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.
Stockholm is unwilling or unable to fulfill Turkey’s requirements, which it put forward as a condition for approving Sweden’s bid to join NATO, Scandinavian Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said.
“Turkey confirms that we have fulfilled the conditions we agreed to. But the Turks also want things that we cannot or do not want to give them,” the Swedish prime minister was quoted as saying by Western media on Sunday.
At the same time, Christersson expressed confidence that Turkey would agree to Sweden’s membership in the alliance.
The protocols for Finland and Sweden to join the North Atlantic Council were signed by NATO countries on July 5, 2022. These states will join NATO as soon as all members of the alliance ratify the accession protocols. Of the 30 NATO nations, Sweden and Finland’s membership in the alliance has not been ratified by Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey has blocked the accession process, demanding that the Nordic countries declare Kurdish organizations terrorist and extradite those accused of terrorism, as well as lift the ban on arms supplies to Ankara.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen suggested in late December that his country would become a member of the alliance by the Vilnius NATO summit of July 11-12, 2023.
Sweden will become the fourth European country ready to provide Ukrainian road builders with temporary bridge structures for the resumption of traffic, First Deputy Head of Ukravtodor Andriy Ivko has said.
“Sweden has begun the process of providing assistance to Ukraine to supply critically needed six modular bridges. Currently, preparations are underway to organize transportation,” Ivko said in an interview with the CFTS.
He said that in addition to Sweden, Ukraine received bridge structures from the Czech Republic, France and Norway. And the Czech Republic, in addition to the six temporary bridges already sent to Ukraine, plans to transfer another 12 bridges.
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said on Monday that Sweden will provide another SEK500 million ($46.75 million) in military aid to Ukraine to help it defend itself against a Russian invasion, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
After talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, Andersson told reporters that her government would give Ukraine an additional SEK1 billion aid package – both military and civilian. She did not give details of the military package, but said it would be similar to previous aid, which, according to the newspaper, included anti-tank weapons, personal protective equipment and demining equipment.
“We will continue to support Ukraine while the war is going on,” Andersson said.
The civilian portion of the package will include purchases of Ukrainian wheat, which will be given to food-insecure countries and help boost Ukraine’s economy.
The report noted that during the meeting, Kuleba urged Sweden to provide Ukraine with howitzers and shells. “While the war is going on, we will ask for more weapons… Every euro, every bullet, every shell counts,” he told reporters.
