Stockholm is stepping up as Washington and Brussels work to increase support in the third year of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The Swedish government announces that it will donate 13 billion crowns ($1.23 billion) in military assistance to Ukraine. Kyiv in difficulty with multiple delays in vital Western military aid during the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch said Wednesday that the assistance package “includes equipment that is at the top of Ukraine’s priority list,” such as air defense, artillery ammunition and armored vehicles. .
Defense Minister Pal Jonsson reiterated that Sweden has so far ruled out sending Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen aircraft to Ukraine, saying the Ukrainian side is focused on implementing a program of F-16 fighter jets.
The donation also includes two Swedish-made SAAB ASCC airborne warning and control aircraft, which Jonsson said would have “the greatest effect on Ukrainian air defense” as they would complement and enhance promised donations of American F-16s.
EU push
TuesdayEuropean Union defense ministers met in Brussels to once again try to increase military support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already secured several promises during his two-day tour of 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.
Zelensky signed a similar agreement with Spain, guaranteeing a pledge for additional air defense missiles.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on Tuesday that the Netherlands will deliver parts for a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala confirmed that the first deliveries from a Czech-led initiative to supply munitions to kyiv, which sources its supplies from outside the EU, would reach Ukraine in June.
However, European military aid estimated at 6.5 billion euros remains blocked by the Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, considered Russia’s most loyal ally within the EU.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, on Wednesday, the first stop on a brief tour of Europe aimed at shoring up 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 has a long border with Ukraine, faces to Russian “influence operations”.
