Ukraine to receive Swedish Gripen fighter jets soon — Zelenskyy
Swedish Gripen multirole fighter jet (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine will receive a batch of Swedish Gripen fighter jets very soon. These will be the first aircraft of their kind to join the Ukrainian Air Force, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said this after meeting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Brussels.
Ukraine to receive Gripen jets
Ukraine expects to receive Gripen jets from Sweden soon, Zelenskyy said.
The president noted that he appreciates the Swedish prime minister's position, emphasizing the need to increase pressure on Russia and step up support for Ukraine rather than do the opposite.
Zelenskyy believes that "this is exactly what Europe's collective response to Russia's escalation should be."
"We discussed in detail what we need to defend ourselves against constant attacks, first and foremost, stronger air defenses. I thank Sweden for our agreements on Gripen fighter jets. We expect deliveries soon. They will complement our F-16s, particularly in shooting down jet-powered 'shaheds'," the head of state said.
The deal is worth approximately 24.6 billion Swedish kronor (about $2.54 billion).
Other outcomes of the meeting
Zelenskyy added that his meeting with Kristersson also focused on:
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Ukraine's path toward EU membership
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Energy support to prepare for the winter season.
Prime Minister Kristersson discussed Sweden's support for Ukraine with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a European Council meeting.
Kristersson emphasized that Gripen fighter jets are now being deployed and pilots are undergoing training, calling these important achievements. He added that Ukraine was handling the challenges of integrating the new aircraft into its air defense system well.
He also said the issue of using frozen Russian assets was raised again that day, but no progress had been made on confiscating them.
In his view, short-term funding to support Ukraine should come from other sources rather than frozen Russian assets.
The media previously reported that Sweden would fully integrate multirole Gripen fighter jets into Ukraine's air defense system, with preparations already underway.
Ukraine and Sweden also signed an agreement in June 2026 to purchase Swedish Gripen E fighter jets. Under the deal, Kyiv will also receive equipment and technical support.
