Ukraine and Sweden have signed a declaration aimed at deepening defence cooperation in a move that will see Kyiv receive a new military aid package worth 2.7 billion Euros. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at a joint press conference yesterday that Ukraine will buy 20 new Gripen fighter jets from Sweden.

The two countries had signed a letter of intent last year, paving the way for Sweden to sell new tab Gripen model E fighter jets to Ukraine. The planes are ​a priority for Ukraine’s fighter fleet, and the country’s defence minister said earlier that a deal ⁠for Gripen E could be signed within months after the European Union approved a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine.