Ukraine, Denmark sign agreement on security guarantees for next 10 years

Under a new bilateral agreement announced on 23 Feb., Denmark has also committed to providing military aid, including fighter jets and naval equipment, to Ukraine through 2028.

Feb 23, 2024 - 08:58

Ukraine, Denmark sign agreement on security guarantees for next 10 years

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva said.

Military aid from Denmark in 2024 will amount to at least €1.8 billion ($ 1.9 billion) in military aid. The Danish Fund for Support of Ukraine also allocated €8.5 billion ($ 9.2 billion) for 2023-2028.

According to Zhovkva, the deal contains “a powerful military bloc” of guarantees. He said that “Denmark as co-chair of the Coalition of Air Forces (AFCC) and participant of the Coalition of Integrated Air and missile defense will ‘support efforts to ensure the integrity of the F-16 potential through the Coalition of Air Forces (AFCC), in particular, by providing fighter jets, ammunition, simulators, and training, as well as contributing to long-term maintenance of fighter jets and creating appropriate conditions in Ukraine.'”

The bilateral agreement reportedly bonds Denmark’s backing for building up Ukraine’s naval forces, demining efforts, and supplying Ukraine with high-tech military assistance, including drones, communications gear, radars and detecting drones.

Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen arrived in Ukraine on 23 February and met with President Zelenskyy, the Office of the President reported.

Earlier on 17 February, during the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the Danish PM.

During the conference in Munich, Mette Frederiksen announced that Denmark would transfer all of its artillery to Ukraine and called on European states to provide ammunition and air defense systems to the Ukrainian armed forces, as “they need them more now.”

Denmark also announced on 22 February the provision of a defense aid package worth around $247 million, including ammunition and drone equipment.

During her visit to Lviv, Ukraine, on 23 February, Frederiksen paid tribute to the memory of the fallen defenders at Lychakiv Cemetery with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy and Frederiksen also honored the memory of an unknown soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who died in 2022 and was buried in Lviv.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pay tribute to the memory of the fallen defenders at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv on 23 Feb. 2024. Credit: Presidential Office

Denmark is one of Ukraine’s main bilateral donors. Recently, Denmark allocated $21 million for the reconstruction of Mykolaiv. The package included projects in the agricultural sector aimed at demining agricultural land, providing cogeneration plants, and reconstructing a dormitory at Mykolaiv State Agrarian University for fire safety.

Denmark also supports Ukraine’s cyber security. Danish Defense Ministry unveiled a $13.2 million aid package for Ukraine to strengthen Kyiv’s defense capabilities against Russian cyber attacks.

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