Sweden has received a request from the Ukrainian side to provide Gripen fighter jets of its own production, but there are currently restrictions on such assistance, the European Pravda reports.
"Yes. Of course, we are aware of it, and President Zelenskyy has asked for it as well. When it comes to Gripen, we are currently facing restrictions due to the fact that these aircraft are very important for maintaining our territorial integrity. So this will be a serious obstacle in terms of our national defence resources," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on Wednesday in Brussels before a meeting of NATO defence ministers.
He clarified that the current priority for Stockholm is to strengthen Ukraine's air defence.
"I had an opportunity to discuss this yesterday with Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Mr Reznikov. We are also cooperating with other countries to strengthen air defence," Jonson said.
At the same time, he emphasized that Sweden, which had already provided military aid worth about a billion euros, was ready to increase it.
“We are significantly increasing our assistance for Ukraine. We will start sending and training the Ukrainian military on more than 50 CV-90 combat vehicles next week,” he said.
The minister added that Sweden is also providing Ukraine with various air defence equipment and winter clothing and is determined to increase its support for Ukraine.