Denmark to send its ‘entire artillery’ to Ukraine, prime minister says
- Mette Frederiksen made the announcement while speaking at the Munich Security Conference
- Ukraine is facing severe munitions shortages as the war with Russia enters its third year
Denmark is sending its “entire artillery” to Ukraine, the Danish prime minister has said.
“They are asking us for ammunition now. Artillery now. From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery,” she said.
“I’m sorry to say, friends, there are still ammunition in stock in Europe,” she said.
It comes as Ukrainian forces withdrew from the key eastern town of Avdiivka amid severe munitions shortages.
The Danish announcement will come as particularly welcome news in Ukraine as its military has been starved of artillery shells, forcing it to scale back some operations, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavsky told Reuters in December.
“There’s a problem with ammunition, especially post-Soviet [shells] – that’s 122mm, 152mm. And today, these problems exist across the entire front line,” he said.
The Czech Republic also said it could supply 800,000 shells to the Ukrainian military.
Czech President Petr Pavel said in a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday that it had a stockpile of about half a million 155mm and 300,000 122mm shells, which can be on the Ukraine front line in a few weeks “if funding is found quickly”.
Denmark has pledged €8.4 billion, around US$9 billion, in military aid.
With a crucial US$60 billion US aid package stalled in the US Congress, European support is becoming ever more important for Ukraine.
“This locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine. The EU is taking leadership and responsibility in support for Ukraine; we know what is at stake,” President of the European Council Charles Michel said at the time, Reuters reported.
