Denmark announces package of 800 million euros for Ukraine's defence needs
Denmark has decided to give Ukraine an aid package worth almost EUR 800 million, which will be its largest contribution since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
Source: Ministry of Defence of Denmark; European Pravda
Details: It will be Denmark's twelfth and largest aid package for Ukraine yet.
The total amount of DKK 5.8 billion will be used in tranches during 2023-2025, the largest of which – 4.3 billion – is planned for 2023, 1.4 billion – for 2024 and 52 million – for 2025.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, said that this package opens a "new phase" in Danish aid to Ukraine: the country gave most of what it could give from its stockpiles directly with weapons, so in the future, Copenhagen plans to focus on purchases for Ukraine's current needs together with other allies.
Troels Lund Poulsen, the Minister of Defence of Denmark, did not disclose with which countries the purchases are planned in cooperation.
"We are cooperating with those who are also interested in supporting Ukraine, and all this is happening in the Ramstein format, the meeting of which is scheduled for next week," Danish TV2 quoted Poulsen.
In addition, the ministers refrained from clarifying which weapons can be purchased with this money.
"This should not be something that the Russian side can simply read about in the international media," the Minister of Defence noted.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, revealed that these plans were discussed during the visit of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to Kyiv.
"Thank you, Mette, for this timely and powerful assistance. Together, we are restoring peace in Europe," he said.
Background:
- Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway were the first among the Western allies to decide to deliver part of their F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Ukrainian pilots have already started training in Denmark.
- Additionally, Denmark, together with the Netherlands and Germany, is preparing to provide Leopard 1 tanks, the first of which are already in Ukraine.
- Earlier, Denmark delivered to Ukraine all the Caesar howitzers it had ordered for itself from France and also helped Ukraine with training of gunners.
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