Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson exchange documents as they give a joint news conference at the F16 air flotilla in Uppsala, Sweden, 28 May 2026. EPA-Yonhap
UPPSALA, Sweden - Ukraine will buy 20 new Gripen fighter jets and Sweden will donate 16 of an older model next year, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a joint press conference on Thursday.
The two leaders had signed a letter of intent last year paving the way for Sweden to sell up to 150 Saab Gripen model E fighter jets to Ukraine, though deliveries of the newer model are several years away.
The planes are a priority for Ukraine's fighter fleet and the country's defence minister said in May that a deal for Gripen E could be signed "within months" after the European Union approved a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine.
"Gripen is the best and optimal choice for Ukraine. So today, we take the next major step on this joint journey," Kristersson said at a press conference alongside Zelenskiy at Uppsala air base, where two Gripen jets were on display.
"We need these jets and for us this is really a new page for Ukraine," Zelenskiy said, adding it planned to buy all the 150 jets stipulated in the original letter of intent. "God bless, we will have enough financing for this," he said.
The transfer of older model C/D jets enables a stopgap solution for Ukraine's air defence in the meantime.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine had earmarked 2.5 billion euros out of a 90 billion euro EU loan package for the planes. Deliveries of the new model are expected to reach Ukraine from 2030.
Shares in Saab were up 4.4% at 1141 GMT, making it the top gainer in Europe.
Saab CEO Micael Johansson said it was a big day for the company and that the deal added to the momentum around Gripen.
Source: Korea Times News
