Kyiv and Copenhagen have signed multiple agreements totaling $600.6 million to support Ukraine’s own weapons production for its army, Ukraine’s ministries of Strategic Industries and Defense reported on 11 November.
The agreements, signed between Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries, Ministry of Defense and Denmark’s Ministry of Defense, will finance the production of long-range drones, anti-tank systems, missiles, and artillery systems by the end of 2024.
According to Defense Ministry Procurement Policy Department Director Hlib Kanievskyi, both state and private Ukrainian arms manufacturers will supply the Armed Forces with self-propelled artillery units, strike drones, anti-tank weapons, and missile systems.
The funding package totals 4.2 billion Danish kroner ($600.6 million), with 1.3 billion coming from Denmark’s state budget and 2.9 billion from interest on frozen Russian assets managed by Denmark on behalf of the EU.
“Denmark has long been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, and we will continue to do so. But if we want to support Ukraine in the long term, it is crucial that we support the Ukrainian defense industry directly,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said.
The agreements implement intentions outlined in a letter signed on 29 September by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin, and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
Deputy Strategic Industries Minister Anna Gvozdiar emphasized that Denmark’s example in developing Ukraine’s defense complex would accelerate weapons delivery while strengthening the Ukrainian economy amid Russian aggression.
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