Russian invasion

Security around the Baltic Sea
Polish Air Force intercepts Russian plane over the Baltic Sea

Poland detected a Russian reconnaissance plane on Thursday, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said, according to Bloomberg. The country has sent fighter jets to intercept the plane, which was over the Baltic Sea.

The Russian plane had not turned on its transponders, which allow other aircraft to see where it is, writes TT.

A similar situation arose on Tuesday and the country's military intercepted the Russian plane then too.

Gripen deal
Gripen deal may fall under EU rules: Too many foreign parts

Frozen Russian assets can be used to finance Ukraine's purchase of Gripen planes. But an EU requirement for borrowing the money is that components in the products manufactured outside the Union may not exceed 35 percent, writes DN.

Martin Lundmark, senior lecturer in defence systems at the Swedish National Defence University, says that more components than that in Gripen are manufactured outside the EU. But exactly how much is unclear. Lundmark estimates it at 50–60 percent. Among them is the engine, which is manufactured by the American GE.

– The engine cannot be replaced with any other.

FMV, which developed Gripen together with Saab, states that less than 35 percent of the fighter plane comes from countries outside the EU.

Gripen agreement
Ukrainian ambassador: Fairly certain that the Gripen deal will go through

Ukrainian ambassador Svitlana Zalishchuk is “fairly certain” that the country’s billion-sek deal with Saab will take place. She tells DI.

Frozen Russian state assets located within the EU are an alternative for financing the purchases and at the next EU summit, expectations are high that the loan arrangement will be approved, writes DN.

When asked why France, which also sells fighter jets, would agree to that solution, the answer is:

– There is a very good relationship between President Zelenskyj and President Macron, and negotiations are underway, she tells DI.