Despite an already strained Swedish economy, the liberal coalition government and the conservative supporting party Sweden Democrats now plan to increase Swedish military aid to Ukraine. This involves SEK 75 billion (6,5 billion EUR) up to and including 2026 plus additional billions in civilian aid.
“With this proposal, the total military and civilian support from Sweden to Ukraine will amount to over SEK 100 billion.The military support in Ukraine can, for example, take the form of donations of defense equipment, financial contributions and financial support in the procurement of defense equipment“, the Government writes in a press release.
The coalition has created “a three-year framework” for military aid, with 25 billion to be spent annually in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and promises, as before, to “support Ukraine’s struggle for as long as it takes” – regardless of the cost to Sweden and Swedes.
“Depending on the type of support that will be used, e.g. whether it is for the delivery of replacement equipment, the framework may burden public finances for several years and even beyond 2026,” they admit.
Top aid recipient
The Government also notes that Sweden has so far donated around SEK 37 billion in various aid packages to Kiev and that Ukraine is currently also Sweden’s single largest recipient of aid.
“With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the security situation in Europe is the most serious since the Second World War. This means that the rearmament process at home must continue while aid to Ukraine is ongoing. The cooperation parties therefore also agree that support for Ukraine should be implemented so that the build-up of Swedish defense capabilities is not undermined or that other necessary reforms are crowded out“, it is further argues.
