A Plan Worrying Putin Enters Implementation: Increased Pressure on Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced a historic defense agreement.
The agreement stipulates supplying Kyiv with up to 150 JAS-39 “Gripen” advanced Swedish fighter jets, in a move aimed at enabling Ukraine to achieve strategic air superiority against Russia in the coming years.

This announcement comes just hours after US President Donald Trump decided to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles supplied by France and Britain.
This decision allows Kyiv to directly target the Russian interior for the first time since the outbreak of the war, opening the door to a possible new escalation in the conflict, which has entered its fourth year.

According to a report published by the Israeli website ynet, the agreement between Kyiv and Stockholm includes a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation between the air forces of the two countries.
The agreement also paves the way for the delivery of a batch of new aircraft to Ukraine in the next few years. Kristersson said that the agreement “may include between 100 and 150 fighters,” describing it as the largest military export deal in the history of the Swedish defense industries.

During the signing ceremony at the Saab aircraft factory, the Swedish Prime Minister affirmed that Zelenskyy “personally reviewed the amazing capabilities of the Gripen.”
He pointed out that his country is “committed to studying all means to supply Ukraine with a large number of aircraft in the coming years.”

This deal is a qualitative shift in Ukraine’s air capabilities.
This will be the first time that Kyiv has modern, new-generation fighters, after relying throughout the war on old Soviet aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Sukhoi-27.

Ukraine will reportedly receive the latest version of the Gripen E aircraft, with deliveries to begin within three years.
Zelenskyy indicated his desire to receive the first batch in 2026, which means that the deal may also include used C/D models to cover urgent needs.

The Swedish aircraft, designed to operate from short runways or highways, is characterized by its suitability for operational conditions in Ukraine.
Where the Air Force relies on mobile field airports to avoid Russian strikes. According to military experts, a team of only six technicians can equip the aircraft with fuel and ammunition and launch it again within minutes, giving it high flexibility in combat.

In addition to the Gripen fighters, the defense package also includes supplying Ukraine with Saab 340 AEW&C early warning and airborne surveillance aircraft, which is the first time that Kyiv will obtain this type of capability.
The Swedish government said that these aircraft “will enable Ukraine to enhance its ability to detect air and sea targets over long ranges, and manage air command and control operations more efficiently.”

Observers believe that this deal represents a strategic shift for Ukraine towards building a modern air force capable of confronting Russian threats in the future.
It also indicates the transition of the war from the defensive stage to rearmament and planning for the post-war period, with direct support from Western countries.

With this step, Ukraine becomes a key military partner for Sweden.
And Ukraine is getting closer to the Western defense system through which it seeks to establish its security and sovereignty in the face of Moscow.