Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at a press conference Sunday evening that Denmark has decided to send weapons to Ukraine, with Denmark donating up to 2,700 anti-tank weapons that the Ukrainians can use against Russian armored vehicles.
“There is a war on European soil and it has changed all the rules of the game,” Frederiksen said during the press conference. Frederiksen also stated that the weapons have not yet been sent but are currently being packed for transport.
According to the military researcher, as quoted by TV2, sending weapons to Ukraine is not an easy task; in peacetime it may take months or years.
The Danish government secured a majority among parliamentary parties in the Danish Parliament's Foreign Policy Council in favor of the resolution.
This is the first time in modern times that Denmark has supplied a country at war with weapons. According to Defense Minister Morten Bodskov, the 2,700 anti-tank missiles come from operational stockpiles, and the armed forces estimated that Denmark could do without these weapons.
In addition to 2,700 anti-tank missiles, Denmark is sending nearly 300 deactivated Stinger missiles to the United States, where they are being manufactured to make them operational again, with the aim of sending them to Ukraine.
Many EU countries are ready to supply weapons
The Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that 2,000 bulletproof vests were en route from Denmark to Ukraine, and in addition, Denmark had sent 700 IFAK first aid kits to Ukraine.
Sweden also announced on Sunday that it will send military support to Ukraine, including 5,000 anti-tank missiles. According to Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist, the deliveries will take place as soon as a formal decision is made.
The Danish and Swedish support came after Germany's decision to send 1,500 weapons to Ukraine, a decision described as historic because it represents a significant shift in Germany's long-standing policy regarding arms exports to war zones.
This decision was also preceded by an announcement by Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod on Sunday morning that the airspace would be closed to Russian aircraft. The European Union later announced that it would take the same measure. This decision was announced on Sunday evening during a press conference of the European Union, where the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union would close the airspace to Russian aircraft. She added that the European Union would also finance Ukraine’s purchases and supply it with weapons and other equipment.
“For the first time ever, the European Union will finance the import and supply of weapons and other equipment to a country under attack,” she said in a statement. This comes after the EU imposed economic sanctions on Russia following the start of the Russian offensive against Ukraine.
