United to win: Sweden unveils largest aid package ever for Ukraine

Photo: ua.news

Nina Voronets

Today, on December 11, Sweden announced it will provide Ukraine with a new aid package worth 1.4 billion kroner ($133.5 million).

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister of International Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell announced this at a joint press conference, according to Sweden Postsen.

The funds will primarily be directed to support energy supply systems, heating, food, housing, and health care.

"At the moment, this is the largest support within the framework of Sweden's bilateral aid to Ukraine," Kristersson said.

Of the announced total amount, 900 million kroner will go to the World Bank's Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). The fund supports Ukraine's energy, housing construction, health care, and transport infrastructure.

Another 300 million kroner will go to the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) fund, 100 million kroner will be distributed through the UN Food Program, 75 million kroner will go to UNESCO for the construction of shelters in schools and preschools, and 25 million kroner will be distributed through the Swedish civil protection service (MSB).

The money taken from Sweden's aid budget will, among other things, go towards purchasing equipment for heating and power transmission in the Ukrainian power grid. It is also about different forms of assistance for Ukrainians, for example, support for shelters.

The Minister of International Development, Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden, Johan Forssell, said this is exactly what the Ukrainian side requested. He accused Russia of conducting a kind of energy terrorism against Ukraine.

"Russia is deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure to make the lives of the civilian population, which has already been severely tested, even more difficult," the statement said.

He added that with this package, Sweden wants to help Ukraine build a new one and restore the destroyed one.

For reference:

On December 5, Ukraine's Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Sweden, General Mikael Buden.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the issue of localization of defense production in Ukraine as well as possibility of supplying Ukraine's armed forces with Gripen fighters.

Buden said that the issue of the transfer of Gripen aircraft to Ukraine is being discussed at both the political and military operational levels.

Sweden is part of the aviation coalition, which aims to provide fighter jets to Ukraine. Previously, Ukrainian pilots and ground personnel had the opportunity to test Gripen aircraft in Sweden.

Thus, at the end of May, the Swedish government allowed Ukrainian pilots to undergo training on the JAS 39 Gripen fighter. They will be able to practice on simulators and make test flights.

The Swedish government also announced the allocation of SEK 75 million (EUR 6.52 million) to the UNESCO fund to restore and reconstruct destroyed and damaged schools and kindergartens in Ukraine, particularly arranging shelters in them.