Sweden is planning more military financial assistance to Ukraine
The Swedish government has proposed supporting Ukraine with more economic and military assistance by adopting one additional amending budget.
Sweden plans to set aside SEK 578 million (USD 59.10 million) as an additional financial contribution to Ukraine’s central bank’s special fundraising account. This will offer support to Ukrainian armed forces in this time of crisis.
According to the proposal, Sweden also plans to supply defense equipment to Ukrainian armed forces. These include RBS 17 anti-ship missile systems, AG 90 anti-materiel sniper rifles and Swedish AT-4 recoilless anti-tank weapons.
The latest proposals will increase allocations to the state budget by SEK 1 billion ($ 102.25 million) in 2022.
Sweden is also considering contributing SEK 60 million (USD 6.13 million) to the NATO fund set up to support Ukrainian armed forces.
In March this year, Sweden announced humanitarian aid worth SEK 500 million (USD 51.12 million) to Kyiv.
In addition, the country plans to donate SEK 100 million (USD 10.22 million) to support Ukrainian civil society as part of the initiative of the Agency for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning.
At the same time, several NATO members and allies have done their part to express solidarity with Ukraine and respond to Russia’s unprovoked actions.
In Germany, Ukrainian forces are undergoing training to become familiar with the 155 mm PzH-2000 self-propelled artillery system.
Training with German howitzers began in mid-May. 155 mm Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers will soon be delivered to Ukraine.
The British Ministry of Defense continued its efforts to help Ukraine and announced its decision to transfer the M270 MLRS to the war-torn nation.
The M270 rockets can hit targets up to 49.7 km away, according to the ministry.
In another development, Ukraine and Poland entered into an agreement to start a company to jointly manufacture military equipment.
Ukraine also signed an agreement to acquire over 60 units of Polish 155 mm Krab self-propelled artillery hobbits. These howitzers will be sent within the next few months.
In a first step, the Lithuanians raised 6 million euros in three days to provide Bayraktar TB2 combat drones to help Ukrainian forces.
Lithuania’s National Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said the nation had signed a pact with Turkey to buy the drone.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Slovakia signed a contract for the supply of eight 155 mm Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers, according to Slovakian Defense Minister Jaroslav Naď.