Finland and Ukraine have signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement, Finland’s Ministry of Defence announced today.

The two countries agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation, including in armaments, intelligence information exchange, and ammunition production, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also said it would provide a new military aid package to Ukraine worth about 200 million euros, including artillery ammunition, to help it in its war with Russia.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s International Development Minister Benjamin Dusa said today that Sweden will give at least SEK 1.4 billion (US$137.7 million) to Ukraine to help it with reconstruction and development, as well as to respond to urgent humanitarian needs.

The package, which is Sweden’s largest ever civilian aid program according to Dusa, includes support to rebuild damaged infrastructure as well as mine clearance and health worker training.

“Support for Ukraine is a matter of solidarity, but also of Sweden’s security,” Dusa told a news conference.

“The last few weeks have not been easy. It has never been clearer that we can no longer take the international community’s support for Ukraine for granted.”