Denmark announced a new package of military and financial support for Ukraine on Tuesday, worth up to 1.7 billion kroner ($250 million), Copenhagen-based Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said, as quoted by Reuters.
The Danish official also said his country would reduce its military presence in Iraq starting in 2024 and instead focus on the Baltic states, providing NATO with a battalion to defend the region.
The battalion is expected to consist of 700 to 1,200 servicemen and will deploy to Latvia for 4-6 months each year. He will remain in Denmark for the rest of the year, but will be ready for quick deployment to the Baltic states in the event of a crisis.
“We have to be prepared for a Danish presence in the Baltics in the long term, and there is a need to balance their presence there and the readiness to deploy from Denmark,” Poulsen said.
He said Denmark would withdraw one of its escort and security units from Iraq and 105 Danish soldiers would return home by February next year.
However, Poulsen assured that the Danish army will continue to provide assistance and personnel to the NATO mission in Iraq.
Russia compiled a list of military equipment that Denmark sent to Ukraine
Poulsen’s statement came after Russia’s ambassador to Copenhagen, Volodymyr Barbin, last month accused the Danish authorities of “not having a red line” on continuing to supply new weapons to Ukraine and not thinking about the cost of escalating the conflict.
“Copenhagen firmly believes that the West is capable of inflicting a military defeat on Russia in Ukraine. Denmark does not think about the fate that awaits Ukraine and its citizens in case of further escalation of the conflict. Based on such ideas, there are currently no red lines or prohibitions on the transfer of new weapons in Copenhagen,” the ambassador said.
According to Barbin, Denmark transferred $900 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, including anti-ship, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile systems, mortars, armored personnel carriers, drones and various types of ammunition.
“Delivery of nineteen Caesar self-propelled guns is planned for May, and Leopard-1 tanks for summer. The possibility of purchasing F-16 fighters is being discussed. Danish instructors train the Ukrainian military,” the Russian diplomat complained.
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Source: Hot News
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