Swedish leaders urge doubling military aid to Ukraine

Swedish political parties across the spectrum agree that the country's support for Ukraine is a strategic strength, but they argue it should be expanded to help secure a victory over Russia. During a panel hosted by the Eastern Economic Institute and the Nordic Ukraine Forum, representatives from the Left Party and the Sweden Democrats highlighted the need for a more aggressive approach.

Moderate Party member Martin Ådahl (C) called for the Swedish military aid budget to rise from 40 billion to 80 billion Swedish kronor per year, noting that current contributions amount to just under 2 % of GDP over four years, compared with 3‑4 % of GDP Sweden provided to Finland during the 1940‑41 winter war. The total aid to Ukraine now stands at 128 billion kronor, roughly half of the 400 billion kronor spent on COVID‑19 response. Other panelists warned that describing the current situation as "quite good" could foster complacency, stressing that a decisive defeat of Russia is essential for lasting peace.