It is, of course, a strong signal to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people that Sweden is ready to support Ukraine in the long term, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) at a press conference and continues:
This is also a signal to our other allies that we need to prepare for Europe to take greater responsibility for supporting Ukraine.
From donation to production
Previously, Sweden has mainly donated military equipment from the Swedish Armed Forces' inventory. Now, the Swedish defense industry will produce military equipment that will be delivered directly to Ukraine.
We are moving from donations from the Swedish Armed Forces' inventory to production, where we are increasingly using the strong Swedish defense industry to enable direct deliveries to Ukraine and the Ukrainian armed forces, says Pål Jonson.
Strengthening Ukraine's capability for long-range combat is an important part of the package, says Jonson.
We are financing, among other things, Ukrainian investments in both long-range drones and long-range rockets that they have requested. So, it is also a dimension of this support that is telling, that we are using the Swedish, European, and Ukrainian defense industries to support Ukraine in the long term.
And it is also to ensure that the Ukraine support does not hollow out our own defense capability, says the Defense Minister.
"Russia has the initiative"
The package also includes donated equipment worth over three billion from the Swedish Armed Forces. This includes 16 Stridsbåt 90, 1,500 anti-tank robots, and 200 anti-tank guns.
This support package is the 18th in a row since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Russia has the initiative in the war, they are putting pressure along the entire front. It is a difficult situation for Ukraine. But Russia has not achieved any of its strategic goals with this war, says Pål Jonson.
The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration is procuring equipment from Swedish and foreign defense industries for direct donation to Ukraine: 5.9 billion.
Economic donations to Ukrainian funds for procurement of ammunition and military equipment, with the intention that at least 1 billion will be used for procurement of long-range capability: 2.8 billion.
Training efforts, such as training in donated Swedish weapon systems: 650 million.
Material donations from the Swedish Armed Forces: 3.3 billion.
The material donations include, among other things, 146 trucks, 16 Stridsbåt 90, 23 weapon stations for naval use, 1,500 anti-tank robots of the TOW type, 1 million 12.7 mm ammunition, and 200 anti-tank guns.
