Denmark played a key role in unblocking the decision on F-16 for Ukraine – Zelensky

Denmark played a key role in unblocking the decision to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, so the state is grateful for "every manifestation of Danish support."

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen said the F-16s to be provided by Denmark will appear in the skies of Ukraine by the summer of this year.

Welcoming the Danish delegation to Ukraine, Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky noted warm relations that had developed, inter alia.

"We are proud of our relations with Denmark, which have been achieved thanks, in particular, to your leadership, Mette. Ukraine is grateful for every manifestation of Danish support for our country, for our people, for international law. Together – Ukraine and Denmark – we have really been able to give both our countries and our entire Europe new security prospects."

"I would like to remind you that Denmark played a key role in unblocking the F-16 decision for Ukraine. Matte, Madam Prime Minister, I thank you personally. We are working now to ensure that Ukrainian F-16s start to really protect Ukrainian skies. And today there is a new defense package from Denmark, and this is, by the way, the fifteenth: ammunition, drones and other weapons that our soldiers are waiting for."

The President noted the launch of an export financing program through a special investment fund of Denmark to support the supply of equipment to Ukraine.

The Danish Prime Minister assured of continued support for Ukraine. She noted that the 15th aid package has already been announced and the next one is being prepared. Frederiksen emphasized the importance of providing Ukraine with F-16 fighters.

"We are all very pleased that Denmark is going to provide these fighters in cooperation with the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States. This is a very powerful weapon… I hope that we will be able to see F-16s in Ukrainian airspace in the near future, before the summer."

She explained the delay in the transfer of the fighter jets to Ukraine was solely due to technical issues that take time to resolve.

"The only reason why we are delaying the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine is simply a technical reason, a technical point. Because we need a serious infrastructure to maintain these fighters, and training for F-16s is much longer and more extensive than for any other weapon system."

In Lviv, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen signed an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support between Denmark and Ukraine.

Both leaders paid tribute to Ukrainian soldiers who fell during the war.

On February 22, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth almost $250 million.

Both governments signed a ten-year security agreement that guarantees support for Ukraine over the next 10 years under a bilateral treaty.