Denmark Increases Military Assistance to Ukraine to $3.2 Billion
The Danish government and a large majority of the country's parliament have agreed to increase military support to Ukraine to 21.9 billion Danish kroner ($3.2 billion) between 2023 and 2028. Previously, the country allocated approximately $2.6 billion for this purpose.
This was announced by the Ministry of Defense of Denmark.
"The brutal invasion of Russia into Ukraine poses a real threat to peace and security across Europe. Therefore, the government and the Social Democrats, Liberal Alliance, Conservative People's Party, Social Liberal Party, Danish People's Party, and the New Citizens' Party have agreed to increase military support to Ukraine through the Ukrainian Fund in the amount of 21.9 billion Danish kroner between 2023 and 2028," stated the official communication from the Ministry of Defense of Denmark.
The financial support will be allocated through the so-called "Ukrainian Fund." The funds are planned to be distributed as follows: Ukraine will receive an additional 7.5 billion Danish kroner in 2023 and 10.4 billion kroner in 2024. The remaining funds will be allocated from 2025 to 2028.
It is noteworthy that this support will be included in Denmark's reporting on defense expenditures to NATO. Therefore, the significant increase in financial assistance to Ukraine means that in 2023 and 2024, "Denmark has allocated funds to meet NATO's goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense and security," according to the Ministry of Defense of Denmark.
"I am proud that Denmark will continue to be an important contributor in the future. Ukraine remains deeply dependent on military support. If the country wants to continue defending itself against Russian aggression and regain control over the lost territories in the coming years, we must continue to support it," said Acting Minister of Defense of Denmark, Troels Lund Poulsen.
The Danish Fund for Ukraine was established in March with a budget of over one billion dollars to support Ukraine. Now this amount has been increased to over $3 billion.
Previously, Denmark, along with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, announced their intention to provide additional anti-aircraft defense capabilities to Ukraine. Denmark is also one of the countries leading the efforts of the so-called "aviation coalition" in assisting Ukraine, which includes training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets, including American F-16s, and the possible transfer of such aircraft to Ukraine in the future.