Together with the warships and ammunition, Sweden today sends a clear signal to Ukraine and the rest of the world. But no matter how much Sweden gives, we remain a small donor to Ukraine, and it is only together with others that we play a role in the larger context.
There are a number of novelties in the Swedish support package of SEK 7.1 billion. For example, Sweden is sending battleship 90 and underwater weapons for the first time. But the really big news is that Sweden is now, and may be assumed in the future, assisting with money so that Ukraine itself can purchase new combat vehicles 90 from the Swedish manufacturer. Funds will also be funded to enable Ukraine to make further purchases in the future.
Sweden is, together with the other Nordic countries, Germany and Great Britain, among the countries that currently drive support for Ukraine according to the research institute Kiel Institute for the World Economy. And Swedish support should not be seen in isolation but as part of a joint effort, which is partly done via the EU and partly done as joint purchases of, for example, artillery shells.
“Would need to be doubled”
The most important donor in terms of kronor is the United States, and when support from there is now frozen in the country’s congress, the need for efforts from EU countries increases, which would have to be doubled to compensate for a complete lack of support from the United States.
There is a strong consensus in Swedish politics that it is right to support Ukraine. The only criticism heard against today’s support package is that it is too small – the Center Party would have liked to see the government send Gripenplan. The government’s answer is that it is under investigation, but you have to wait until Sweden is part of NATO.
“What is really needed are artillery shells”
But the truth is that it is not Sweden’s support that will change the serious situation Ukraine is in right now. What is really needed are artillery shells, and they are needed in huge quantities. Right now, Ukraine’s army is forced to ration use to 2,000 per day. The Russians fire around 10,000 per day, and you get an idea of the order of magnitude of this if you know that each grenade can cost up to SEK 85,000 according to NATO’s assessment.
On Thursday, the government will come forward with its proposal to increase military aid to Ukraine. The issue will then be taken up by the Riksdag, which is expected to adopt it unanimously. As I said, a signal to the outside world that is at least as important to Ukraine as the content.