Denmark pledges new €228 million military aid package for Ukraine
Photo: From open sources
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a new military aid package to Ukraine.
It is worth nearly $250 million, Rubryka reports, citing Ekstra Bladet.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressed that Denmark is one of the countries that strongly supports Ukraine. She said Copenhagen has spent 33 billion Danish kroner in support.
"Denmark has approved another aid package for Ukraine. Denmark sends a very clear signal that its support for Ukraine is unwavering," she said.
Frederiksen stressed that the new aid package for Ukraine would come at a high cost.
"Ukraine can count on Denmark's support for the next ten years. The same goes for several other countries. Freedom comes with a price," said the prime minister.
Meanwhile, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the cost of the new aid package is 1.7 billion Danish kroner (about $247 million).
He said the initiative was being carried out in cooperation with other allies, including the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The minister added that the previous funding for military support is allocated until 2028.
Poulsen also announced that the first batch of Danish F-16 fighter jets will arrive in Ukraine this summer. However, he said he could not specify the exact timing.
The northern European countries also strive to join Ukraine's security commitments as quickly as possible.
Here's what we know about Denmark's military aid to Ukraine:
The Netherlands and Denmark reached an agreement on August 20 of last year to transfer F-16 jets to Ukraine after Ukrainian pilots finished training.
Ukraine will receive 42 American F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands and 19 jets from Denmark.
Denmark expects to transfer the first F-16 fighters to Ukraine in the spring of 2024, but it depends on the readiness of Ukrainian pilots, technicians, and infrastructure.
In January, Norway sent two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark for Ukrainian pilots to train.
Moreover, in the coming months, Denmark and the Czech Republic will transfer combat infantry vehicles, tanks, heavy weapons, and other types of weapons from factories and warehouses in the Czech Republic to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Also, Denmark has allocated 100 million Danish kroner ($14 million) for the joint European procurement of 155mm artillery ammunition for Ukraine.
Ukraine and Denmark will jointly hold a Ukrainian-Danish defense industry forum focusing on drone production.
Denmark has also called on partners to increase arms supplies to Ukraine and has decided to transfer all the artillery it has in reserve to the needs of the Armed Forces.
