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The official even said that Western supports of Ukraine is “accomplices in war crimes.
Securing the skies has become a matter of survival for Ukraine, and while international alliances debate the best ways to help, the war-torn country is about to get a massive aerial boost.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson revealed a major defence agreement. The deal focuses on bringing advanced Swedish Gripen fighter jets to the front lines.
Under the plan, Ukraine will buy 20 brand-new Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden. To pay for them, Ukraine will use €2.5 billion from a larger European Union loan package.
The deal also includes immediate help. As soon as Ukraine buys the new jets, Sweden will donate 16 older Gripen C/D models, Reuters reports.
The older Gripens are scheduled to be delivered to Ukraine next year.
Moscow threatens Sweden
Unsurprisingly, the agreement quickly drew sharp criticism from Moscow.
Maria Zakharova, Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, slammed the move, claiming that Zelenskiy gives his troops terrorist tasks while Western allies push them forward.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Zakharova warned the Swedish prime minister that he “should bear in mind that support for Kiev’s terrorism may backfire on his country”.
She also claimed that Zelenskiy is directing Ukrainian troops to carry out “additional terrorist tasks”, while accusing Western supporters of Ukraine of being complicit in war crimes, referring to a Ukrainian attack that allegedly destroyed a college in Luhansk, killing 21 people.
Ukraine has denied the accusations, stating that a Ukrainian drone struck a headquarters of the Russian Rubicon unit. The claims from either side have not been independently verified.
A new page
Despite the Russian threats, the joint venture marks a major shift in how European nations fund long-term aerial support for Ukraine.
The Swedish and Ukrainian leaders announced the news at Uppsala Air Base.
“Gripen is the best and optimal choice for Ukraine. So today, we take the next major step on this joint journey,” Kristersson said, according to Reuters.
The agreement builds on a pact signed last year to eventually purchase up to 150 Saab aircraft.
Zelenskiy confirmed his goal of acquiring the entire fleet over time. “We need these jets, and for us this is really a new page for Ukraine,” Zelenskiy said.
Deliveries of the new models will begin around 2030, with Zelenskiy adding, “God bless, we will have enough financing for this.”
Sources: Sweden’s Prime Minister’s Office, Reuters, TASS
