#Sweden

We reach the 37th Marine Brigade's stabilization point in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The approach road is battered, winding beneath a canopy of anti-drone nets. When we return a few weeks later, even more layers have been added.

When Russian forces occupied a Ukrainian village, locals hid a Swedish flag to keep it safe. Years later, that small act reflects a much larger story, as Sweden’s and Ukraine’s top envoys show how diplomacy now extends far beyond embassies—into military support, recovery efforts, and the defense of shared values.

Ukraine’s ambitious plan to acquire up to 150 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden could soon become a three-country project. While Stockholm would supply the aircraft, Canada may play a critical role by assembling Gripens for Ukraine, creating a defense partnership that stretches from Scandinavia to North America.