Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (23 February) signed a bilateral safety settlement – the primary such pact to be made between Kyiv and a Nordic nation.
The announcement got here as Frederiksen met her Ukrainian counterpart within the western Ukrainian metropolis of Lviv, a day earlier than the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Copenhagen has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine and is among the many greatest contributors of army assist relative to the scale of its financial system.
With this step, Denmark has joined the UK, Germany and France in concluding a 10-year safety cope with Ukraine as a part of a wider Western effort to assist the nation repel Russia’s aggression.
Danish package deal
The safety ensures will probably be financed by Denmark’s Ukraine Fund, which has up to now earmarked greater than 69 billion Danish kroner (DKK) – €9.2 billion – for the initiative, the Danish Overseas Ministry mentioned in an announcement.
Denmark may also help efforts to safe a holistic F-16 capability by the Air Pressure Functionality Coalition by offering fighter jets, ammunition, simulators, coaching, and upkeep.
The settlement additionally units out a mechanism for consultations inside 24 hours on the request of both social gathering within the occasion of a future armed assault by Russia.
“That is probably the most severe safety coverage state of affairs because the finish of the Chilly Conflict. And we, from the Danish authorities’s aspect, can not emphasise sufficient how necessary it’s that Ukraine receives the army capabilities that they want,” Fredriksen mentioned in Lviv.
“If we don’t stand collectively, Ukraine gained’t stand, and probably Europe gained’t both,” she added.
Frederiksen mentioned she expects Denmark to make its first supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this summer season.
In line with Fredriksen, it have to be clear to everybody now that Russia needs battle greater than Russia needs peace.
“Russia is within the course of of reworking itself into an precise battle financial system. Political opponents are cleared out of the way in which. And Putin has proven his willingness to sacrifice the nation’s younger males on the battlefield,” Fredriksen mentioned.
“Russia should after all not be allowed to find out Europe’s borders by pressure. It have to be freedom and democracy that wins ultimately,” she added.
Denmark will present Ukraine with one other defence assist package deal value 1.7 billion DKK that features ammunition and drone gear, amongst different army materials, the Danish defence ministry introduced on Thursday (22 February).
As a part of the most recent assist package deal, Copenhagen will reportedly finance the procurement of 15,000 out of 800,000 artillery shells the Czech Republic has present in third-party nations and proposed to ship Ukraine.
The 155mm artillery ammunition financed by Denmark are anticipated to be delivered to Ukraine inside just a few months, in keeping with the Danish Defence Ministry.
Ramping up Danish defence
Copenhagen will step up strengthening the nation’s defence in gentle of Russia’s continued risk in direction of Europe.
“With an funding of 155 billion DKK, we’re planning a historic increase to the defence. However we are able to already say that we count on to wish extra,” Frederiksen mentioned.
Whereas acknowledging it is going to be costly, she added that “freedom comes with a value”.
“There was one earlier than, and there may be one after February 24, 2022. The world has grow to be a extra harmful place. We now have to recognise that and we have now to behave,” Fredriksen mentioned.
[Edited by Nathalie Weatherald]
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