Ukraine's president announced plans to acquire all 150 Swedish Gripen fighters, funded through a €90 billion loan.
10:47 AM
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Sweden on Wednesday for a working visit focused on securing a major defense package and finalizing arrangements for Gripen fighter aircraft, according to officials.
During the visit, Zelensky met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and representatives of Sweden's defense industry. "We are preparing a major defense package for Ukraine and a strong step regarding Gripen fighter jets, which will definitely make our combat aviation more effective," Zelensky said in a statement.
At a press conference with Prime Minister Kristersson, Zelensky announced that Ukraine intends to purchase all 150 Gripen fighter jets available from Sweden. He stated that the acquisition would be funded through a €90 billion loan and would be completed in phases.
"Of course we will buy all 150 fighters, God willing we have enough funding for this. We are counting, as I already said, on these 90 billion. We will do this step by step," Zelensky said at the press conference.
The visit builds on previous defense discussions between the two nations. In May, Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held talks with Swedish officials regarding military cooperation and support for Ukraine's armed forces.
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