Ukraine, Sweden agree to work on major long-term arms contract
(MENAFN) Ukraine and Sweden have agreed to pursue a large-scale defense partnership that could see Stockholm supply between 100 and 150 Gripen fighter jets to the Ukrainian military, according to statements from President Vladimir Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday.
The announcement followed Ukraine’s parliamentary approval of a major budget increase, adding 325 billion hryvnia ($7.7 billion) to military spending and raising the total defense budget for the year to a record 2.96 trillion hryvnia ($70.86 billion).
While a formal contract has yet to be signed, Sweden — which became NATO’s newest member in March 2024 — confirmed that it had signed a letter of intent outlining the framework for the potential deal. Zelensky emphasized that both sides should work to ensure that Ukrainian pilots begin operating the Gripen aircraft “next year.”
“We must do everything to get first real results next year,” he said during a joint press conference with Kristersson in the Swedish city of Linkoping. The Swedish leader added that the initial deliveries could happen “within the next three years,” describing it as “a long-time process.”
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen, first produced in 1987, remains one of Sweden’s most notable defense exports. Around 280 aircraft have been delivered globally as of 2025. Saab AB, the manufacturer, has reportedly set a target to ramp up production to 20–30 jets per year within two years. Zelensky said on Telegram that Ukraine expects to receive “at least 100 such aircraft” through the agreement.
Kristersson noted that financial arrangements for the deal are still under discussion. Funding could potentially come from frozen Russian assets — which Ukraine’s allies have repeatedly proposed redirecting to support Kiev — or directly from Western governments, according to reports.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
