Sweden ready to transfer Gripen fighters when Ukraine ready - FM Billström

15:20, 11.07.2024 1 min read

Sweden has frozen the supply of Gripen fighters to Ukraine due to the decision of the Ukrainian government, but is ready to resume it in the future, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said.

"This has nothing to do with the decision of the Swedish government. This decision was made because Ukraine came to the conclusion that it is too much to have two fighter systems at the same time - both the F-16 and the Gripen," he said in an interview with Voice of America.

Billstrom recalled that it’s about complex systems and it would be difficult to implement both at the same time.

However, he also assured that Sweden is ready to resume deliveries of Gripen fighters to Ukraine in the future.

"It's just a practical issue ... I would say that the F-16s, which are now being introduced into the Ukrainian Air Force, will provide you with great and important opportunities. When this is implemented, then we can start talking about Gripen air fighters," he said.