Sweden opens its wallet once again for Ukraine as the government sends an additional €67 million directly to the Ukrainian state budget – money that Kiev can use freely to cover its growing budget deficit.

Sweden thereby becomes the first EU country to provide this type of direct support.

The decision was made by the Swedish government on Thursday and means that Swedish taxpayers will now finance the Ukrainian state treasury’s ongoing expenses. This comes in addition to the approximately €9 billion that Sweden has already sent to Ukraine since 2022.

In 2025 alone, Sweden plans to provide at least €4.3 billion in civilian and military aid to Ukraine – equivalent to 0.76 percent of Sweden’s GDP. To this is now added an additional €67 million in direct budget support.

Swedish Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa defends the extensive contributions and wants to see more European countries follow Sweden’s example, especially after the US has reduced its support.

— We will stand behind Ukraine through thick and thin for as long as needed, he promises in Schibsted-owned TV4 News.

Must not go to corruption

The new budget support will be channeled through the EU’s so-called Ukraine Facility, but Ukrainian authorities can decide for themselves how the €67 million should be used. According to Dousa, Sweden sets certain requirements, but the government does not want to go into details about these.

— We will always ensure that the money does not go to corruption and that Ukraine takes the reforms they are currently pursuing seriously and continues to become even more democratic and move even closer to the EU, the minister claims.

Dousa explains that Ukraine’s economic situation is under severe pressure after three years of war and describes the situation for next year as “very strained”, especially since American support has decreased.

— The economic situation, especially for next year, is very strained given that the US has withdrawn. Then we must be more countries that now step up and do even more for Ukraine. Partly this is an important signal to the rest of Europe to step up more, but also to Ukraine, the minister continues.

Under sommaren gjorde regeringen en ny, stor omprioritering för att kunna öka stödet till Ukraina ytterligare. Nu är stödet beslutat: 750 miljoner till Ukraina – och vi blir först i EU med direkt budgetstöd.https://t.co/J2sHxCXJyd

— Benjamin Dousa (@BenjaminDousa) August 25, 2025

References Sweden’s security

The Swedish development aid minister claims that it is in Sweden’s own security interest to continue pumping billions into Ukraine. He repeats the mantra that “Ukraine is not only defending its own independence and freedom but all of Europe’s”.

— A Russian tank that is eliminated by Ukraine is one less tank that can drive into the Baltics, Finland or even into Sweden, he claims.

With the latest addition, Sweden’s total support to Ukraine approaches the €9 billion mark – a sum that will now grow further as Swedish tax money goes directly to covering holes in Kiev’s state budget.

The combined Western support to Ukraine approaches €360 billion since the war began. Despite the massive sums, Ukraine has not managed to achieve the military successes hoped for. At the same time as more and more voices now openly advocate diplomatic solutions and swift peace negotiations, both economic contributions and arms deliveries from the West continue.