STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Sweden on Wednesday pledged military aid of SEK13.3 billion (USD1.25 billion) to Ukraine, as Kyiv struggles with multiple delays of vital Western military support in the third year of war with Russia.
The Scandinavian country, which formally joined NATO in March, will donate a range of material, including ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, Rb 99 medium-range air-to-air missiles and artillery ammunition, and all of its model 302 armoured infantry fighting vehicles.
“Sweden is supporting Ukraine with its 16th aid package, its largest to date worth SEK13.3 billion,” Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch told reporters.
Defence Minister Pal Jonson, also participating in the press conference via video link, added that the ASC 890 surveillance aircraft would be particularly useful for Ukraine’s air defence, enabling it “to identify incoming cruise missiles and drones and identify targets both on the ground and at sea”.
Stockholm has not excluded sending its Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, but on Tuesday said it has been asked by the air force coalition for Ukraine to hold off as they prioritise the introduction of US-made F-16s into the Ukrainian air force.
Sweden has in recent days announced both a SEK650 million aid package to secure Ukraine’s energy supply, a sector that has been targeted by Russian strikes, as well as a framework civilian and military aid package of SEK75 billion over three years, from 2024 to 2026, to support Kyiv “as long as necessary”.
The pledges bring Sweden’s overall aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022 to more than SEK100 billion, making Kyiv the biggest recipient of Swedish aid.
