Sweden sends armored vehicles and artillery systems to Ukraine
The Swedish government announced on Thursday a new package of military aid to Ukraine that will include armored infantry fighting vehicles and said it had ordered its defense forces to prepare the shipment of the Archer artillery system.
The package is worth it USD 419 million and will also include NLAW anti-tank weapons.
“Military support to Ukraine is absolutely crucial,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a press conference. “Ukraine’s wishes in terms of what they want weigh heavily in our decision.”
Stockholm will send about 50 of its Type 90 infantry tracked and armored fighting vehicles. Meanwhile, the government did not specify how many Archer systems it would deliver.
Before the package that was presented on Thursday, Sweden had announced additional financial support to Ukraine as well as several installments of humanitarian supplies.
Sweden currently holds the rotating EU presidency and has applied to join the NATO alliance together with Finland, a move that abandons decades of non-alignment.
The country has 48 Archer systems, which are vehicle-mounted self-propelled howitzer weapons that Ukraine has long expressed interest in expanding its arsenal as it seeks to push back against Russian forces.
source:
Reuters