The Russian invasion

The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world  

Canada and Italy sign new agreements with Ukraine 

 

Canada and Italy on Saturday became the latest in a series of countries to sign ten-year bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. 

 

At X, President Zelenskyy thanks the respective leaders Justin Trudeau and Giorgia Meloni for their support. 

 

"Ukraine is definitely stronger now than two years ago," he writes.  

 

Canada commits in its agreement to provide the equivalent of more than SEK 20 billion in financial support during 2024.  

 

In the past, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, France and Denmark have also signed security agreements with Ukraine. 

 

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Researchers: Huge growth in Europe's arms market 

 

The NATO process and greatly increased military investment in the wake of the Russian invasion has become an injection for Europe's arms manufacturers. Martin Lundmark, senior lecturer at the Norwegian Defense Academy, states in Ekonomiekot Extra that a market that has been stable for a long time has now grown "enormously" in a short time. 

 

- Right now it's about replacing the things that have been donated to Ukraine, he says and predicts that demand will remain high for at least the next five years. 

 

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Russian invasionSwedish reactions  

Arms companies scale up: "Run the factory around the clock"  

 

Swedish defense companies are scaling up their production to try to meet the higher demand. Ammunition manufacturer Nammo will have doubled its production in Sweden from 2022 to the end of 2024 - but that is far from enough. At the factory in Karlskoga, where the 155 millimeter artillery shell is manufactured, they recently went up to five shifts. 

 

- So we run that factory around the clock, says business development manager Björn Andersson to Ekonomiekot Extra.  

 

At Saab Dynamics, 800 people have been hired in a short time, a lot to be able to increase the production of ammunition for the Carl Gustaf grenade launcher. 

  

- We need to hire a lot of people. And that involves our entire subcontractor chain. We are in a phase that I think quite a few have been in, says operations manager Görgen Johansson.  

 

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Grenade Caster: No longer taboo to craft weapons  

 

Arms manufacturers in Europe have to struggle to meet the increased demand. At Nammo's factory in Karlskoga – one of four locations in Western Europe where the 155 millimeter artillery shell is manufactured – it has been noticed that the view of the defense industry has changed. 

 

- It is no longer taboo to manufacture weapons and ammunition, says caster Charalambos Nakos to Dagens Arbete. 

 

Tommy Larsson, chairman of the local Metal Club, believes that everyone is aware of what they manufacture. 

 

- Grenades that deal damage. But I don't feel bad about it. I think that it is the person behind the weapon who does the damage, he tells the newspaper. 

 

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The Russian InvasionThe Battles  

Analysis: The war factories grind on in dark Russia 

 

Darkness has gradually descended over Russia during the "special military operation" that Putin miscalculated to the point that it has now lasted for two years. That's what Matthew Chance writes in an analysis for CNN. 

 

"The full-scale invasion of Ukraine was the moment when Putin finally abandoned the slightest semblance of cooperation with the West, and any semblance of allowing dissent or criticism in this great country."  

 

In their hearts, many Russians hope that a change will come - but few dare to believe that it will happen soon, Chance continues.  

 

But despite tough sanctions from the West, the Russian war economy continues to struggle. This is mainly due to deficiencies in two areas: practical ability and political will, write five Politico writers.  

 

Resources and coordination are required to handle lawsuits from Russians whose assets have been frozen, or to staff ports with inspectors – different countries have different priorities, they write.  

 

Politically, it is difficult to pressure countries to stop buying Russian products when you want to cooperate with them in other areas, the writers continue.  

 

"Washington does not want to teach a potential partner against China like India, and Brussels does not want to alienate Turkey in the Middle East."