Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Sweden on Thursday for high-level discussions with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, focusing on bilateral defence cooperation, according to statements from both the Ukrainian leader and the Swedish government.
Major Defence Package and Gripen Jets
Zelenskyy announced on social media that the two nations are preparing a significant defence package and working toward an agreement to supply Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. This visit underscores Kyiv's strategy to deepen military ties with allies by leveraging the drone expertise it has developed during more than four years of conflict with Russia.
Drone Know-How Shared Globally
The Ukrainian president revealed that Ukrainian specialists have assisted countries in the Middle East, particularly in the Gulf Arab region, in strengthening their air defences amid the ongoing Iran war. Additionally, they have provided support at American military bases in the Middle East. Ukraine has also entered into joint drone production agreements with several European Union nations, which remain wary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's potential military ambitions beyond Ukraine.
Impact of Drone Campaigns
Ukrainian drones patrolling the 1,250-kilometre (780-mile) front line and striking deeper supply routes have effectively constrained Russia's larger army. According to a late Wednesday assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, Ukraine's successful mid-range and front-line drone strike campaigns are limiting Russia's ability to transport personnel to the front line and sustain its positions.
Russia's Casualties and Capabilities
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including the Crimean Peninsula, which was seized in 2014. The cost of this occupation has been immense, with the head of the UK's GCHQ intelligence agency stating on Wednesday that nearly half a million Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict. However, Russia retains an advantage in long-range ballistic missiles, which it has used throughout the war to damage Ukraine's power grid and bombard cities.
Escalating Aerial Campaign
Last weekend, Russian forces launched almost 90 missiles and hundreds of drones at Kyiv in an attempt to overwhelm air defences as part of an escalating long-range aerial campaign targeting civilian areas. In response, Zelenskyy has written to US President Donald Trump and Congress requesting additional American-made air defence ammunition to counter Russian ballistic missiles, Kyiv officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Need for Patriot Missiles
Zelenskyy's letter emphasised the urgent need for more US Patriot PAC-3 missiles and other air defence systems, warning that deliveries to Ukraine are falling dangerously short as the Iran war diverts US stocks. The Ukrainian capital is bracing for further heavy bombardments, though no foreign diplomats are known to have followed Moscow's recommendation to leave Kyiv ahead of what the Russian Foreign Ministry described as impending systemic strikes.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday that all diplomatic missions in the capital continue to operate normally.
