Denmark has announced its 19th military assistance package for Ukraine. Among other things, it will allow the Danish side to invest directly in Ukrainian arms production.
This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine with reference to the Danish Ministry of Defence.
The assistance includes a number of different agreements with allies on procurement and transfer of defence equipment, including more equipment to support the F-16s provided by Denmark.
Defence Minister Trolls Lund Poulsen stressed that Ukraine still needs significant military support due to the ongoing Russian aggression, so with the latest aid package, Denmark is providing "the maximum possible support for Ukraine's needs on the battlefield here and now".
"But we also have a Danish security commitment to support Ukraine for the next 10 years. That is why we have created a Danish model of support through the Ukrainian defence industry, which will help to increase the production of military equipment in Ukraine in the short and long term," said Poulsen.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, for his part, stressed that investing in the Ukrainian defence industry is an effective and sustainable way to support Ukraine's combat capabilities, both now and in the long term.
"With this initiative, we are fulfilling Ukraine's strong desire and strengthening both Ukrainian and European security. Therefore, Denmark will continue to expand our capabilities to support Ukraine's defence industry, and we are also pleased with the attention this has received in the EU and elsewhere," the Foreign Minister added.
In the last two aid packages, a total of DKK 1.2 billion (about $117 million) was earmarked for investment in the Ukrainian defence industry.