Sweden to shift focus from weapon donations to procurement expertise in Ukraine

Sweden and other Western nations are running low on available weapons to donate to Ukraine, indicating that future support will increasingly come in the form of financial donations for weapon purchases. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, reports from Russian media detail Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil.

In response to the evolving situation, Sweden aims to establish a presence in Ukraine to assist with expertise in weapon procurement. Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated that the country will transition from donating military equipment from its own stockpiles to producing new defense materials. This shift is designed to ensure that Ukraine has access to modern defense tools while maintaining Sweden’s operational capabilities amid a serious security situation.

An unspecified number of civilian officials from Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration will be sent to Ukraine this autumn to work closely with the Ukrainian procurement organization. Their role will involve offering support to develop long-term procurement routines for defense materials.

The Defence Minister underscored that these actions align with international law and emphasized that it is Russia that initiated the illegal conflict. Overall, the Swedish government is adapting its strategies to ensure continued assistance to Ukraine while balancing its own national security needs in light of the ongoing war.