Sweden on Sunday announced it would break its doctrine of not sending arms to countries in active conflict and send military equipment, including anti-tank launchers, to Ukraine.

"My conclusion is now that our security is best served by us supporting Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russia," Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told reporters.

Andersson said 5,000 anti-tank weapons of the model "Pansarskott 86", a single-use anti-tank launcher known internationally as Bofors AT-4, would be sent to Ukraine.

The decision to send arms, 135,000 field rations, 5,000 helmets and 5,000 pieces of body armour is the first time Sweden has sent weapons to a country in armed conflict since the Soviet Union attacked Finland in 1939, Andersson added.

Swedish media reported that Ukraine had specifically requested the more advanced Robot-57 anti-tank system.

"A weapons system that can strike against tanks and armoured vehicles has been requested and this is such a system," Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said when asked about the decision.

"In addition this is a system that is easy to operate, doesn't require training and can be handled by a single soldier," Hultqvist added.

Sweden officially abandoned its stance of neutrality at the end of the Cold War but remains officially "non-aligned" and outside military alliances.

The country is not a member of NATO, although it has been a partner to the alliance since the mid-1990s.

Canada to send military equipment to Ukraine
Ottawa (AFP) Feb 28, 2022 - Canada announced Sunday that it would ship non-lethal protective military equipment such as helmets to Ukraine's army, but again ruled out sending troops in against Russian forces.

Ukrainian troops need bulletproof vests, helmets, gas masks and night vision equipment, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said at a press conference.

The contributions by Ottawa will amount to 25 million Canadian dollars (17.6 million euros), said Joly, stressing that she had received the request "directly" from Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.

Canada's Defence Minister Anita Anand meanwhile reiterated that a combat mission was "not on the table right now."

Ukraine's outgunned soldiers and citizen fighters have been trying for four days to repel an invasion by Russian military forces.

Canada announced on February 14 that if would send arms and ammunition to Ukraine, a first, accompanied by a loan of 500 million Canadian dollars.

Canada has a large Ukrainian diaspora, numbering more than 1.3 million.

Countries sending arms and aid to Ukraine
Paris (AFP) Feb 27, 2022 - Many countries including neutral non-aligned Sweden have started to send military or humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Thursday.

The United States, Canada and 19 European countries have so far responded to urgent Ukrainian appeals for military equipment.

- United States -

Washington said Saturday it is sending an extra $350 million in military aid to Kyiv to bring its total support to more than a billion dollars over the last year.

"This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armoured, airborne and other threats it is now facing," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

On Sunday, Blinken announced $54 million in new humanitarian aid to be spent through NGOs.

- Canada -

Canada is sending lethal military weaponry to Ukraine and loaning Kyiv half a billion Canadian dollars ($394 million) to help it defend itself.

- Germany -

Berlin has broken a longstanding taboo of not exporting arms to conflict zones in vowing to send Ukraine 1,000 anti-tank weapons, 500 "Stinger" surface-to-air missiles and nine howitzers.

It is also donating 14 armoured vehicles and 10,000 tonnes of fuel.

- Sweden -

Stockholm is also breaking its historic neutral stance to send 5,000 anti-tank rockets to Ukraine as well as field rations and body armour.

It is the first time Sweden has sent weapons to a country in armed conflict since the Soviet Union invaded neighbouring Finland in 1939.

- France -

France, which has already sent help, is dispatching more military equipment as well as fuel.

Paris says it has acted on earlier Ukrainian requests for defensive anti-aircraft and digital weapons.

- Britain -

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is committed to "provide further UK support to Ukraine in the coming days", without specifying what it might be.

- Belgium -

Belgium says it will supply Ukraine with 3,000 more automatic rifles and 200 anti-tank weapons, as well as 3,800 tons of fuel.

- Netherlands -

The Dutch defence ministry says it is sending "200 Stinger missiles as soon as possible", after a shipment Saturday of sniper rifles and helmets.

It adds to the 20 million euros ($22 million) of humanitarian aid it has already promised.

- Czech Republic -

Prague said Saturday it is sending 4,000 mortars "in the next few hours" as well as an arsenal of 30,000 pistols, 7,000 assault rifles, 3,000 machine guns as well as scores of sniper rifles and a million bullets.

The Czechs had already promised Kyiv 4,000 mortars worth 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) which have yet to be delivered.

- Italy -

Rome has sent 110 million euros ($123 million) in immediate aid to the Ukrainian government as "a concrete sign of our support," Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio tweeted.

- Portugal -

Portugal is giving Ukraine night vision goggles, bulletproof vest, helmets, grenades, ammunition and automatic G3 rifles.

- Greece -

Greece, which has a large community in Ukraine -- 10 of whom have been killed with many more in the firing line -- is sending "defence equipment" as well as humanitarian aid.

- Romania -

Bucharest -- which shares a border with Ukraine -- is offering to treat the wounded in its 11 military hospitals as well as sending fuel, bulletproof vests, helmets and other "military material" worth three million euros ($3.3 million).

- Spain -

Madrid has promised to send 20 tonnes of aid to Ukraine, mostly medical and defensive equipment such as bulletproof vests.

- Israel -

Israel says it is sending 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid such as medical equipment, water purifiers, tents and sleeping bags.

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