Overview
- The Swedish monarch met President Volodymyr Zelensky in Lviv on Friday in a show of support and talks on defense ties.
- Zelensky said he expects Ukrainian pilots to start training on Swedish-made Gripen jets this year.
- He said expanding the combat air fleet will need the EU’s €90 billion support package to be released to unlock funding.
- Sweden has set aside 80 billion kronor in military aid for 2026–2027, and talks have explored a Gripen fleet of up to 150 jets that has not been contracted.
- Ukraine offered to share defense technologies with Sweden, and Zelensky thanked Queen Silvia for backing efforts to return abducted children and expand school meals.