Sweden unveils its largest defense aid package for Ukraine worth $682 million.

Sweden will provide Ukraine with military support worth 7.1 billion Swedish kronor (£682 million), Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said on Feb.

20 when announcing Stockholm's largest aid package to date. This brings the total value of Swedish military assistance to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 to 30 billion Swedish kronor (£2.88 billion). The latest tranche will include 10 CB 90 combat boats, 20 group boats, and underwater weapons, Jonson said.

Ukraine will also receive artillery ammunition worth 2 billion Swedish kronor (£192 million), RBS 70 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), anti-tank missiles, Carl Gustaf grenade launchers, hand grenades, and medical supplies, the SVT public broadcaster reported. "This aid package will add ~1 billion (Swedish kronor, £96 million) to the Swedish-Danish joint procurement of CV90s to Ukraine. This means that Sweden and Denmark will jointly invest 4 billion (Swedish kronor, ~£385 million) towards this goal," Jonson revealed.

The minister noted that the "package meets some of Ukraine's most pressing needs and is in line with the military capability coalitions that are taking shape within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group." "Ukraine is not only defending its own freedom but that of all of Europe. Sweden will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Russia cannot be allowed to win this war," Jonson said. While not a NATO member, Stockholm plays an important role in the pro-Ukraine coalition. Swedish contributions to Kyiv have included Archer self-propelled artillery systems, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, and Swedish variants of Leopard 2 tanks: Strv 122.

Sweden unveiled its previous package in October 2023, worth 2.2 billion Swedish kronor (£211 million) and consisting of artillery ammunition, spare parts, infantry equipment, and communications equipment. Ukraine has also shown interest in Swedish-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets, although Sweden has been hesitant to supply the aircraft so far, arguing it first needs to finalize its NATO bid.

Munich diaries: Fear and uncertainty at the 'Lose-Lose' conference Editor's note: The following piece is a personal account of the Munich Security Conference from a Kyiv Independent reporter but does not purport to reflect the views of the publication.

MUNICH - For three days every year, the space in front of the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in central Munich turns