Stockholm makes pledge as Washington and Brussels push to boost support in third year of Russia-Ukraine war.
The Swedish government says it will donate 13 billion kronor ($1.23 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine as Kiev struggles with multiple delays in vital Western military aid in the third year of the full-scale invasion from Russia.
Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said on Wednesday that the assistance package “consists of equipment that is at the top of Ukraine’s list of priorities” such as air defense, artillery ammunition and armored vehicles.
Defense Minister Pal Jonsson reiterated that Sweden has for now ruled out sending any Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen jets to Ukraine, saying the Ukrainian side’s focus is on implementing an F-16 fighter jet program. .
The donation also includes two Swedish-made SAAB ASCC airborne early warning and control aircraft, which Jonsson said would have “the greatest effect on Ukrainian air defense” because they would complement and reinforce the promised donations of American F-16s.
EU boost
On Tuesday, European Union defense ministers met in Brussels to try again to increase military support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already secured several commitments during his two-day visit to Spain, Belgium and Portugal this week.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib said her country would equip Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets and the first deliveries are planned for this year.
Zelenskyy signed a similar deal with Spain, securing the promise of additional air defense missiles.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on Tuesday that the Netherlands would deliver parts for a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala confirmed that the first deliveries of a Czech-led initiative to supply ammunition to Kiev, which sources supplies from outside the EU, would arrive in Ukraine in June.
However, around 6.5 billion euros ($7 billion) in EU military aid remains paralyzed by the Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, considered Russia’s staunchest ally in the EU.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, the first stop on a brief trip through Europe that aims to solidify Western support for Ukraine among NATO allies and neighboring countries.
Blinken will meet with pro-European President Maia Sandu and other senior officials at a time when U.S. officials say the former Soviet republic of 2.5 million people, which shares a long border with Ukraine, faces “influence operations ” Russians.
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