Sweden will donate 16 of its existing Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, with deliveries starting in early 2027, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday. The donation follows a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to an airbase in Uppsala. Kristersson called the decision historic and said it would significantly strengthen Ukraine's air defence.
Under a long-term agreement, Ukraine plans to buy an initial 20 of the latest Gripen E model, with deliveries expected from 2030. Zelenskyy expressed hope that financing could be secured for up to 150 aircraft. The Gripen can be armed with European-made Meteor air-to-air missiles.
US congressmen, including Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Jim Himes, backed Zelenskyy's calls for more air defence missiles after meeting him in Kyiv. Himes noted that US military support discussions had been complicated by the conflict with Iran, urging a swift resolution to free up resources for Ukraine.
At the UN, the US condemned Russia's use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile in strikes on Kyiv, calling it a dangerous escalation. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said the war's dynamics are shifting in Ukraine's favour but that Russia shows no genuine interest in peace. She stressed that Europe will not be a neutral mediator.
Ukraine reported striking a Russian oil refinery at Tuapse on the Black Sea, causing fire and smoke. Meanwhile, a drone hit a residential building in Romania's Galați, injuring two people. Three oil tankers, part of Russia's shadow fleet, were attacked by drones off Turkey's Black Sea coast, with no casualties reported.
