Johnson showed that he is in a position to send more complex weapons to Ukraine. “My first bilateral meeting with [Ukrainian] Defense Minister Oleksej Reznikov,” he added. [EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS]
Sweden will deliver more complex weapons to Ukraine to illustrate its new defense policy, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Johnson announced Sunday.
Sweden wants Kyiv to be more active in its war against Russia, the moderate party’s Johnson said in an interview with Dagens Nyheter on Sunday. “My first bilateral meeting was with [Ukrainian] Defense Minister Oleksej Reznikov,” he added.
The Swedish government has not yet specified which complex weapons Sweden will ship, but Christian Democratic defense policy spokesman Mikael Oscarsson has in the past pointed to two of the most applicable weapons systems: the 70 air defense missile and the Archer system.
The 70 air defense missile is a lightweight missile formula that is “small and easy to move,” according to the Swedish Armed Forces, and the Archer formula is a Swedish self-propelled cannon on wheels.
According to Jonson, those statements illustrate the 3 priorities presented by the new Swedish government last week, all similar to Russian aggression against Ukraine. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s 3 political statements are the war in Ukraine, Sweden’s investment in defense, and Sweden’s candidacy for NATO. .
Kristersson discussed NATO 11 times in his government and promised to complete the accession procedure with Finland.
Sweden’s announcement to send more heavy weapons to Ukraine comes at a time when voices are being raised in the United States, NATO’s leading country, to talk about the military for Ukraine, which could be questioned if Republicans win a majority after the Nov. 8 election. midterm elections.
(Charles Szumski | EURACTIV. com)