The Swedish Ministry of Defense has announced a new military aid package worth approximately $199.8 million to be provided to Ukraine.
This aid package marks the 14th one that Ukraine will receive since the start of the Russian invasion. It primarily consists of artillery ammunition but also includes spare parts, infantry equipment, and communication gear, as reported by The Kyiv Independent. Furthermore, the ministry has requested its armed forces to assess whether Sweden can supply Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. Ukrainian pilots have already conducted test flights with these jets. Ukraine is striving to acquire modern Western fighter jets to counter the Russian invaders. However, Sweden must first become a member of NATO before it can provide one of its jets. So far, Turkey and Hungary, in particular, have opposed Sweden’s accession to the alliance.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated in September that he saw no urgency in approving Sweden’s NATO membership. Additionally, Reuters reported just a day later that Turkey would only approve Sweden’s accession if the United States granted approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.
More news on the Ukraine conflict:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has commented on the possible EU accession of Ukraine. While he advocated for a future expansion of the alliance, according to n-tv.de, he also mentioned that existing members must make the “European Union more future-ready.” This involves addressing challenging financial and political issues. Scholz also stated that decision-making structures need reform, especially to achieve these goals.
Image: President.gov.ua, Working visit of the President of Ukraine to Kharkiv region 49, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)
