Denmark speeds up aid to Ukraine after provocative Russian ship incident
Illustrative photo: Denmark urgently strengthens Ukraine's air defenses (twitter.com/oleksiireznikov)
Denmark is speeding up the delivery of a new military aid package to Ukraine to strengthen its air defense system after a Russian frigate fired signal flares toward a Danish military helicopter, Denmark's Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus said, according to Reuters.
What the new package will include
The new support package is worth 1.8 billion Danish kroner (about $276 million). All the funds will go directly toward strengthening Ukraine's air defense.
"If the Russians think they can rattle us... then our response is to ramp up our support for Ukraine faster than we had intended," Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus stressed.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, in turn, emphasized that no pressure from Moscow would force Denmark to abandon its support for Kyiv.
"If anyone thinks they can pressure us to hold back on our support for Ukraine, they are mistaken," he said.
Denmark's response and Ukraine's air defense
The decision was made against the backdrop of a dangerous incident in international waters near Gedser, where a Russian frigate fired signal flares at a Danish military helicopter.
Copenhagen described the incident as a serious provocation and summoned the Russian ambassador.
At the same time, the Danish government stressed the need to systematically strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.
Earlier, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the West could provide Ukraine with more Patriot systems if there was sufficient political will among its allies.
