Sweden pledges $1.23 billion military aid to Ukraine
- 29 May, 09:41
Sweden announced that it will donate $1.23 billion in military aid to Ukraine to boost Kyiv’s defence capabilities. This is Sweden’s 16th and largest package of assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s full-fledged invasion over two years ago.
Announcing the aid package on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch revealed that “it consists of equipment that is at the top of Ukraine’s priority list” and includes air defense, artillery ammunition and armored vehicles.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonsson said the donation includes F-16 fighter jets, two Swedish-made SAAB ASCC airborne early warning and control airplanes, which he claimed would have the “greatest effect on the Ukrainian air defense” because it would complement and reinforce the promised donations of American F-16 fighter jets. “You can identify incoming cruise missiles, you can identify drones and identify targets both on land and at sea,” he said.
The minister said Sweden for now would withhold from sending any Swedish-built JAS 39 Gripen jets to Ukraine but “is still working on possibly being able to contribute with the Gripen system later.
The donation also includes a missile system that can be used both on aircraft and in ground-based air defense systems, he said. It will be donated to Ukraine through cooperation with the United States, Jonsson said.
Earlier this week, Ukraine secured military assistance from Spain and Belgium during his trips to the two European countries. Belgium will send 30 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by 2028 as part of the military aid worth €977 million that Brussels announced during Zelenskiy’s visit to Tuesday. Spain pledged €1 billion in military aid to Ukraine as well.
