Sweden has unveiled its largest military aid package for Ukraine, amounting to 16 billion kronor ($1.59 billion), in an effort to strengthen Kyiv's position in negotiations to end the war.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that 9 billion kronor will be used to purchase new military equipment in Swedish-led operations, while 5 billion will be allocated to Ukraine’s defense industry in the form of financial grants.
He emphasized that the war has reached a critical stage and stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine as much as possible to ensure it can negotiate from a position of strength.
He also called on European nations to step up their support, saying that more countries need to do more.
Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has sought to mediate a ceasefire to end the three-year-long war in Ukraine.
When asked whether Europe could handle more responsibility if the US reduced its aid, Jonson pointed to defense industry production as a bigger challenge than financial resources.
He noted that the European Union’s economy is significantly larger than Russia’s, meaning intensified support is possible if the political will exists.
However, he warned that Europe’s defense industry has been structured for peacetime production, which limits its ability to scale up quickly.
Sweden has pledged to increase its aid to Ukraine this year, raising its 2025 budget allocation to 40 billion kronor, up from a previously planned 25 billion. The latest package brings Sweden’s total military support for Ukraine since 2022 to 80 billion kronor.
At the current exchange rate, one U.S. dollar equals 10.03 Swedish kronor.
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