Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Sweden and Norway on 22 October 2025, meeting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (statsminister) in Linköping and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (statsminister) in Oslo.
The Zelensky visits Sweden and Norway trip focuses on defence cooperation, potential defence export announcements in Sweden, and the broader European response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
What Linköping signals: Gripen, industry and defence export
Sweden hosts the meeting at Saab’s facilities in Linköping, where the JAS 39 Gripen is produced. Kristersson has described the agenda as a potential major Swedish export industry deal linked to defence.
A joint press briefing is expected after the visit. The choice of venue underlines how Stockholm increasingly frames support to Ukraine through long‑term industrial and capability partnerships, beyond immediate donations.
Security backdrop: airport closures and layered policing
Local authorities tightened security around the visit, including temporary restrictions at Linköping City Airport and a coordinated operation involving the Police Region East and the Swedish Security Service (Säkerhetspolisen). The tightened posture reflects Sweden’s broader risk assessment tied to Russia’s ongoing war and hybrid threats.
In Norway: continuity of support and Nordic coordination
In Oslo, Zelensky meets Jonas Gahr Støre to discuss continued Norwegian backing across military, energy and reconstruction tracks. Norway has committed multi‑year assistance to Ukraine through the Nansen Support Programme, with allocations for both defence and civilian resilience (including energy security ahead of winter).
The Norwegian stop highlights the Nordic countries’ coordinated approach to Ukraine and their role in EU‑NATO alignment, despite Oslo being outside the EU.
Why Gripen matters to Kyiv’s air defence mix
Talks in Linköping keep the Gripen fighter jet on the table as part of Ukraine’s future air‑defence and air‑policing mix. While Kyiv is integrating F‑16 systems, the Gripen offers a complementary profile—short runway performance, dispersed operations, and a Scandinavian logistics base—relevant to Ukraine’s contested airspace. Any path toward exports will hinge on export‑control decisions, training pipelines and integration with existing Western systems.
European context: defence industrial scaling and long‑term security
Zelensky’s twin‑stop visit adds momentum to Europe’s ongoing defence industrial ramp‑up and discussions on security guarantees. Both Sweden and Norway argue that sustained, predictable support—from air defence to energy systems—will shape Ukraine’s deterrence and recovery. The meetings also serve as preparation ahead of upcoming European Council discussions where Ukraine’s needs, sanctions policy and reconstruction financing remain central.
What to watch next
Announcements on Swedish defence exports, particularly around Saab platforms and sub‑systems; Norwegian updates tied to winter energy support and long‑term funding envelopes; and whether Stockholm and Oslo signal fresh steps on training, maintenance hubs or joint production with Ukrainian partners.
