Denmark to boost military aid to Ukraine with $2.6 billion increase

Denmark plans to increase its spending on military aid to Ukraine by 17.9 billion danish krones ($2.59 billion) over this year.

Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, stated this on Monday during a radio broadcast.

According to her, the government plans to add another DKK 7.5 billion to the fund this year and 10.4 billion next year. The new money is earmarked for military aid.

“This major contribution will further strengthen the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the short and medium term. Our strength is in unity!” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a tweet.

In March 2023, Denmark’s government established a fund with DKK 7 billion ($1.01 billion) to finance military, civilian, and business assistance to Ukraine. A large part of the funds – over $767 million – was directed to military aid.

Denmark is also a member of the “tank coalition,” a group of countries that help strengthen the Ukrainian military with Western-made tanks. In particular, Denmark, together with Germany and the Netherlands, will transfer about hundred Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.

In February, Denmark started a project to modernize a large number of Leopard 1A5 tanks together with the Netherlands and Germany.

The first phase of the project is to deliver tanks for two battalions – equivalent to approximately 80 tanks – as quickly as possible. The first tanks should arrive in Ukraine by the beginning of June.

In April, Denmark also supplied Ukraine with 19 CAESAR 8×8 self-propelled howitzers manufactured by the French company NEXTER. In addition to this donation, Denmark helped with the training of future Ukrainian crews.

Currently, Denmark, together with the Netherlands, heads the European coalition for conducting training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.