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Ukraine concludes long-lasting security handle Sweden and Norway

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy concluded longterm security agreements with Sweden and Norway on Friday, an indication of Western commitment to Ukraine as Kyiv looks for even more military assistance from the West in the war with Russia.

Zelenskiy checked out Stockholm as Western countries discuss whether to let Kyiv utilize weapons supplied by them to strike targets inside Russia, which began its major intrusion over two years back is now assaulting Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine.

He said Ukraine's use of any Western weapon to strike Russian area was now just a question of time.

The security deals with Sweden and Norway - as well as Iceland - bring to 15 the number of contracts Kyiv has signed with Western countries. The Nordics are all now NATO nations and have actually all been strong fans of Ukraine.

You can see that Russia is attempting to expand the war ... Only together we can stop the madness from Moscow, Zelenskiy said.

In a joint declaration, the Nordic leaders and the Ukrainian president said: We will collectively make every effort to increase Ukraine's. and our own production capability to meet Ukraine's requirements for. battle-decisive munitions.

Under the current deal, Sweden will transfer 2 ASC 890. monitoring aircraft - viewed as important for determining incoming. cruise rockets and drones and identifying targets in the air. and at sea - in addition to its entire stock of armoured tracked. workers carriers.

You are actually fighting not only for your own flexibility. but likewise for our flexibility and our security, stated Swedish Prime. Minister Ulf Kristersson.

However Stockholm will not yet transfer Saab Gripen. fighter jets to Ukraine, as conversations continue over whether. Kyiv ought to instead receive U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to be in. action with the air capabilities of NATO allies.

Sweden signed up with the Western military alliance this year and. does not have such jets.

Ukraine signed a 10-year security handle Norway, which is. in addition to its existing bilateral help programme that. supplies $7 billion over 5 years in combined military and. humanitarian help.

Under the extra offer, Norway, a neighbour of Russia in. the Arctic, will concentrate on maritime and air defence requirements and. would be open to the Norwegian defence market localising. production in Ukraine, viewed as a way to accelerate shipment of. defence products.

Norway is home to Nammo, a top European manufacturer of. ammunition, as well as Kongsberg Gruppen, which. produces the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. ( NASAMS) the Ukrainians have actually been using.

Ukraine likewise signed a long-term security arrangement with. Iceland on Friday. Denmark and Finland signed 10-year security. agreements with Ukraine in February and April respectively. ($ 1 = 10.5521 Swedish crowns)

(source: Reuters)