Ukraine and Sweden commmitted to a joint production of defence materiel

The swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly produce defence materiel bound for Ukraine in Sweden. 

The Letter of Intent outlining this new form of Swedish-Ukrainian cooperation was signed during the visit of swedish Minister for Defence to Kyiv on 23 August 2025. 

The Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine acknowledged that the security of Ukraine is integral to the security of Sweden and the broader Europe. Throught this understanding both countries shared the conviction that building resilient supply chains and mobilizing defence industry is crucial for the security of Ukraine, Sweden and the broader Europe.

Building on their excellent mutual relations and the steadfast Swedish support for Ukraine, both parts declared their readiness to support joint defence-industrial production projects in Sweden and Ukraine for the benefit to security of Ukraine, Sweden and the broader Europe.

The signed document described as a Letter of Intent stated the willingness to establish deeper cooperation in defence production by supporting the co-production of defence materiel on the territory of Sweden and Ukraine and intend that defence materiel co-produced in Sweden will be exported back to Ukraine to help the Ukraine repel the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and deter future aggression. 

Any export of defence materiel produced in Sweden is subject to separate and independent national approval processes, as well as applicable national and international law. Defence materiel co-produced in Sweden may also be purchased by the Swedish defence agency to the benefit of Sweden.

The Signatories intend to provide support, to facilitate this cooperation, subject to their respective national approval processes and in accordance with their respective national laws and international commitments and facilitate the sharing of technology for the setup and operation of Ukrainian origin defence materiel production facilities in Sweden for the benefit of the security of Ukraine, Sweden and the broader Europe.

It should be noted that Ukraine has on multiple occasions expressed interest in the joint production of defence materiel by Ukrainian and Swedish companies in Sweden for export to Ukraine. Several countries – including Romania, Poland and Denmark – already work with Ukrainian defence materiel companies under similar arrangements.

“Sweden is eager to intensify its defence industrial cooperation with Ukraine. With this Letter of intent, we aim to strengthen both Swedish and Ukrainian rearmament. By combining a Swedish industrial base, Ukrainian innovation, and Ukrainian battlefield experience, we can build a stronger joint defence industry," stated Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.

As a result of this cooperation, the two countries will benefit from each other’s industrial strengths. This is possible in the fact that Sweden has good capacity for advanced production in both civil and military industry, while Ukraine has strong expertise on unmanned systems, electronic warfare and software development.

In addition to being part of Sweden’s military support to Ukraine, the cooperation will also benefit Swedish industry and capability growth.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Sweden has provided extensive military, humanitarian and other civilian support to Ukraine. Sweden also provides economic support, assistance with civilian crisis management and support to Ukraine’s reform efforts and reconstruction. Since February 2022, Sweden has contributed approximately SEK 95.8 billion to various initiatives supporting Ukraine (5 August 2025). Together with the EU, Sweden has also decided on extensive macroeconomic support initiatives and several sanctions packages against Russia.

Sweden supports Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a fair and sustainable peace based on international law and the UN Charter.

Since February 2022, Sweden has provided extensive military, humanitarian and other civilian support to Ukraine. Sweden also provides economic support, assistance with civilian crisis management and support to Ukraine’s reform efforts and reconstruction. Sweden has contributed approximately SEK 95.8 billion to various initiatives supporting Ukraine (5 August 2025). Together with the EU, Sweden has also decided on extensive macroeconomic support initiatives and several sanctions packages against Russia. 

The political vision of the Kingdom of Sweden os to support Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a fair and sustainable peace based on international law and the United Nation Charter.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor