Sweden allocates new military aid package to Ukraine
Ukraine will receive a new aid package from Sweden (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The Swedish government has approved a decision to allocate €63 million in support to Ukraine. This tranche will be provided as part of previous military aid packages, according to the Swedish government’s website.
The financial contribution includes €20 million to support Ukraine's industrial base, following a Danish model to facilitate procurement within Ukraine’s defense industry based on the country’s needs. The government also plans to allocate around €43 million for financial support toward a range of multilateral initiatives aiding Ukraine.
On Thursday, October 24, the government authorized the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to negotiate and sign an agreement with Denmark to provide Ukraine with a €20 million grant for procuring defense equipment through Ukrainian defense industries. The Swedish Armed Forces have also been tasked with transferring these funds to Denmark.
The Danish model, which Sweden intends to support, is designed to facilitate procurements that Ukraine’s industrial sector seeks to undertake. This model incorporates mechanisms to ensure the effective use of provided funds and provisions for Ukraine to report back on the use of supplied equipment. Previous Danish support under this model enabled Ukraine to produce 18 units of its artillery system.
Increased production within Ukraine strengthens the broader European defense industrial base. A robust defense industrial base is essential to address the significant demands arising from the war in Ukraine and the efforts by European nations to enhance their defense capabilities.
"Together with the assignment that the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration already has regarding support to Ukraine in the area of procurement, this assistance to Ukraine’s industrial base will open up further opportunities for cooperation between the Ukrainian and European defence industries," the statement reads.
It includes the potential for joint development of innovative solutions tested directly on the battlefield and bolstering Ukraine's capacity to produce and maintain defense equipment.
The government also plans to allocate around €43 million to support a range of existing multilateral initiatives aimed at providing rapid and effective assistance to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Examples of initiatives that could be supported include several coalitions of forces and resources established under the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG):
- the Air Force Capability Coalition, acquiring air-to-air missiles for Ukraine’s F-16 programme;
- the Maritime Coalition, training Ukrainian marine infantry;
- the Demining Capability Coalition, procuring equipment for demining landmines;
- the IT Coalition, of which Sweden recently became a member, procuring hardware for communication.
As part of this support, Sweden will also contribute to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, which includes funding for military equipment procurement.
Defense assistance from other countries
On Monday, October 28, Norway announced a new aid package for Ukraine valued at €500 million.
At the end of September, Denmark unveiled a military aid package worth $629 million for Ukraine, with funds directed towards procuring domestically-produced weaponry.
Finland has decided to provide an aid package to Ukraine valued at €118 million.
