Denmark will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and Mykolaiv for as long as it takes. Speech by the Danish Minister

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen's speech at the Danish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on 19 February, in which he reaffirmed his unwavering support for Ukraine and its fight for freedom, and stressed the importance of European unity, increased military assistance and the restoration of the affected regions, including Mykolaiv.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen speaking at the Danish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on 19 February, photo: Oleh Dereniuha / NikVesti

Dear Ukrainians, dear Danes, I am sure we all remember the morning of 24 February 2022. Missiles over Kyiv, Russian soldiers crossing the border into Ukraine as part of a full-scale invasion. Putin's attack on a free and independent country in Europe. Putin thought it would be a short war. He thought he would finish what he started in 2014, that Ukraine would surrender, that Europe would be divided. But this did not happen. The Ukrainian people rose up against the aggressor and drove Russia back. Three years later, Ukraine continues to fight, defending its freedom — an outstanding achievement.

However, this is a protracted war, and the human cost is enormous. No one wants peace more than Ukraine, but peace must be achieved on fair terms. And this is actually very simple: if Russia lays down its arms, the war will end. If Ukraine lays down its arms, there will be no more Ukraine. Some may say that I am repeating myself, and I will gladly do so again, because it is worth saying as often as possible. Denmark will support Ukraine as long as Putin threatens freedom — as long as it takes. Ukraine's freedom is key to Europe's security, and Europe has supported Ukraine's fight for freedom from the beginning. That is why Ukraine and Europe must be united in whatever is necessary. We must work towards a lasting peace in which Ukraine controls its borders and makes its own decisions about its security and its future. A peace agreement must ensure that Russia can never attack Ukraine again. At the same time, we must maintain the strongest economic and political pressure on Russia. Sanctions are important. Russia must feel the consequences of its aggression. These were the main messages we conveyed at the Munich Security Conference last week.

Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. And nothing about Europe without Europe

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen speaking at the Danish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on 19 February, photo: Oleh Dereniuha / NikVesti

Ukraine must now be in a position of strength. We must achieve peace through strength. This means providing Ukraine with strong support right now. We must stand up for Ukraine. We must do more. And the Danish government is ready to do so. The best way to do that is to continue and strengthen our support for Ukraine. I have to say that I am proud that Denmark is the largest donor of military assistance to Ukraine in relative terms. And in absolute terms, we are the fourth largest country in the world. Even more importantly, we have the greatest support in society. This sends a strong message about our commitment to Ukraine's security now and in the future.

We should inspire other countries to increase their assistance. This is a security issue for the whole of Europe. Last year, when I visited Mykolaiv, a city for which Denmark has taken special responsibility for the reconstruction, I spoke to students. They were proud of Ukraine's resistance, proud that they were able to deter Russia, and had no doubts about their future. They want to be part of the Erasmus programme, the EU's educational space, because they are Europeans. Ukraine is a European country, part of the European economy, a nation in the heart of Europe. That is why we have to support Ukraine on its way to EU membership, just as we helped the Baltic states to become EU members after gaining independence more than 30 years ago.

Danish delegation on the central square of Mykolaiv, 26 January 2024, photo by the Embassy of Denmark in Ukraine

This is not just a war against Russia, it is a war for freedom and independence. The freedom to choose our own path to the European Union. Denmark will continue to support Ukraine in all possible ways — through private investment, civil society, our reconstruction assistance, and, most importantly, through military assistance. We are doing this by helping to rebuild Mykolaiv. Together with Ukraine, we have developed a three-year plan for reconstruction, green energy development and good governance. And this plan is already being implemented.

We also support Ukraine when we provide F-16 fighter jets and when we invest directly in the Ukrainian defence industry through the so-called «Danish model». We invite other countries to join this initiative because it is cheaper, much more efficient in terms of logistics and gives Ukraine a real opportunity to fight Russia.

We must continue on this path, improve this model and, as I said, inspire other countries to follow our example, because Ukraine's freedom is our freedom, it is Europe's freedom. We have to take more responsibility for our own security in Europe, and therefore for the security of Ukraine.

Denmark will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for as long as it takes

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen speaking at the Danish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on 19 February, photo: Oleh Dereniuha / NikVesti

One of the things that impressed me most during my trips to Ukraine was the determination of Ukrainians. In Mykolaiv, children are engaged in various activities. They play football, handball, sing, do whatever they like. They go to the market, they work, they continue to live their daily lives, even despite the war that has changed the lives of every Ukrainian. Many of you who are here today in the Danish diaspora have relatives in Ukraine. You have friends, brothers, sons, daughters who are fighting, families in cities like Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia or Kyiv. You will never forget 24 February 2022.

Both my promise to you and the collective promise of all the Danish people to you is this: we will never forget either.