Sweden to give Ukraine Gripen fighters after F-16s

Sweden may provide Ukraine with its Gripen fighter jets after the F-16s arrive in Ukraine. However, the Swedish alternative now is to provide Ukraine with two radar reconnaissance and control aircraft (ASC 890). This was stated by Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Bilstrom before the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

‘We will not be supplying Swedish Gripen at this time, as the message from the F-16 coalition is that the integration of two types of aircraft at the same time will be difficult. Therefore, perhaps the Gripen will be provided after the F-16 and the coalition will do its job,’ Bylström said.

According to him, the Swedish government has offered Ukraine an alternative: to provide two detection and surveillance aircraft, which is ‘an important addition to the F-16 coalition, as it gives Ukraine the capabilities it lacks’.

He also noted that there is a great need to increase ammunition production in both the EU and Ukraine.

The Swedish minister said that Kyiv can use the weapons that Stockholm is giving it ‘without any restrictions’, in compliance with international humanitarian law. He added that all the military aid that Sweden has provided to Ukraine so far has been used by Kyiv properly.

‘Ukrainians decide how to defend themselves. Russia has violated international law by attacking Ukraine, so they have the right to defend themselves,’ said Bilstrom.

In his opinion, everything possible should be done to ensure that Ukraine wins this war, as victory would mean that Putin has not achieved his strategic goal of seizing Ukraine and undermining the international order and security architecture in Europe.

‘Therefore, it is in the interests of both NATO and the EU that Ukraine wins this war,’ the Swedish politician stated.

He stressed that Sweden is ready to support Ukraine for as long as it takes until Kyiv wins.

Bildström also expressed his belief that only Ukraine has the right to decide when it wants to enter into peace talks with Russia.