Denmark says Europe needs to rearm fast as it signs Ukraine security deal

KYIV, Ukraine: Denmark said Europe needs to rearm more quickly as it became the latest Nato member to sign a 10-year agreement on security cooperation with Ukraine on Friday, the eve of the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The bilateral agreements, already signed by the UK, Germany and France, follow a pledge by the Group of Seven nations last year to establish bilateral “long term security commitments and arrangements” with Ukraine.

Denmark, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, is among the biggest contributors of military aid relative to the size of its economy. Its new 1.7 billion crown ($247.4 million) military aid package was unveiled on Thursday.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark hoped to supply Ukraine with F-16 jets soon as she visited the country and met President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

“It’s a very powerful weapon… We are working very hard, and I would like to see our Danish F-16 in the air in Ukraine before summer,” Frederiksen said at a joint press conference with Zelensky in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.Ukraine has welcomed the security deals while emphasising that it still seeks to join the Western defence alliance, which commits to defend any member that comes under attack.“These are guarantees of strength that are already working and will remain available to Ukraine until it joins Nato,” Zelensky said.