UPDATE 1-Talks with Ukraine on Gripen fighter jet deal are going well, Swedish defence minister says

"Negotiations are ‌ongoing and they're going well," Jonson told a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykhailo Fedorov in Stockholm. Jonson told Reuters he ⁠did not ​rule out ⁠a deal this year. The planes are seen as a priority ⁠for Ukraine's post-war air force fleet but there have been question ​marks about the funding.

​Talks between Sweden ‌and Ukraine to ​strike a deal on Saab-made Gripen fighter jets are going well, Swedish ‌Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on Thursday.

The countries last year signed a letter of intent that could see Sweden supply up ‌to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. "Negotiations are ‌ongoing and they're going well," Jonson told a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykhailo Fedorov in Stockholm. Jonson told Reuters he ⁠did not ​rule out ⁠a deal this year.

The planes are seen as a priority ⁠for Ukraine's post-war air force fleet but there have been question ​marks about the funding. Fedorov said Ukraine had a plan ⁠for how to finance the deal and that the country could be ⁠ready ​to announce a deal soon, "maybe in a few months."

Swedish defence group Saab's CEO told Swedish media ⁠in May that he hoped a deal could be signed ⁠this year ⁠after Hungary reversed its veto to a European Union 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.