Burç Eruygur
23 February 2024•Update: 24 February 2024
ISTANBUL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that his country had signed a security agreement with Denmark during an official visit by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to the western city of Lviv.
“This is a strong document, which confirms Denmark's unwavering support for our people. It includes at least €1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) in assistance for this year. Denmark will also support efforts in securing a holistic F-16 capacity through the Air Force Capability Coalition by providing fighter jets, ammunition, simulators, training, and maintenance,” Zelenskyy said on X.
Saying that they are continuing to work on a new security architecture for Ukraine, Zelenskyy thanked Denmark for its solidarity with the Ukrainian people amid the Russia-led war, which enters its third year tomorrow.
A separate statement by the Ukrainian presidency said the 10-year document signed by Zelenskyy and Frederiksen builds on provisions of a G7 declaration at a NATO summit in Lithuania last July.
“The document sets out the main components of Denmark's security commitments to Ukraine, including long-term military and financial assistance, and outlines the priority areas of bilateral security cooperation in the military and non-military spheres, including political, financial, humanitarian sphere, and reform efforts,” the statement said.
Aside from the €1.8 billion in military support for this year, Denmark's Ukraine Support Fund will provide €8.5 billion in long-term military and civilian support through 2028, the statement also said.
It also said Denmark will support efforts to secure F-16 capacities for Ukraine through the Air Force Capability Coalition, and that both countries will cooperate to enable Ukraine to counter Russian cyberattacks, cyber espionage and hybrid warfare.
For her part, Frederiksen told a press conference following her meeting with Zelenskyy that the F-16 fighter jets being provided to Kyiv will fly over Ukraine by this summer.
On the delay, she said: “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.”
