Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and the Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov have signed an agreement to support Ukrainian defence companies' establishment of production in Denmark. The government has reserved DKK 500 million for efforts to strengthen the establishment of Ukrainian companies in Denmark.
“Denmark is leading the way by giving Ukrainian defence companies the opportunity to start production in Denmark. The agreement will form the basis for close cooperation between Danish and Ukrainian defence companies. At the same time, it will give the Danish defence easier access to some of the latest technologies and experiences from Ukraine. In this way, the integration of our defence industries will be of great benefit to the security and combat power of both countries,” says Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.
“The agreement marks a next important step in the new ‘Build-with-Ukraine initiative’, which I announced at the last meeting in the Ramstein format. I am pleased that Ukraine is launching this next phase with Denmark, which is one of our closest partners and which has contributed billions to support Ukraine's security, as well as created growth in our defence industry through the Danish Model. The agreement forms the foundation for Danish-Ukrainian cooperation in the next decades,” says Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
The Danish and Ukrainian defence ministers signed the agreement in connection with the NATO summit in The Hague.
“The horrors of Putin know no bounds. Denmark has been standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainians since the beginning of the war. And now we are once again showing that the Danish support continues unabated. We live in a troubled time where it is absolutely vital that we have a strong defence industry. With the agreement, we are getting a big step closer to being able to fulfil the great potential of the Danish defence industry. For on a sad background, the Ukrainian defence industry has gained many valuable experiences that our own defense industry can now even more easily benefit from when we welcome the Ukrainians on Danish soil. This is a major contribution to Ukraine’s freedom struggle as well as the Danish and European armament,” says Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov.
In the current security policy situation, there is a need to ensure the construction of new facilities and supply chains in Europe in order to strengthen Denmark's and Europe's overall combat power. By the establishment of Ukrainian companies in Denmark, the Ministry of Defence in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Business and Foreign Affairs will ensure a higher degree of integration of Ukraine into the European defence industry.
Furthermore, the most important experience collection and technology development in the defence industry is taking place in these years on the basis of Russia's war against Ukraine.
“It is on a sad background that the Ukrainians with a tremendous speed and skillful innovation force have managed to build and scale their defense production. Denmark has since Russia's invasion in 2022 been behind Ukraine and provided significant military, civilian and financial support for Ukraine. Denmark continues, and with Ukrainian defence companies in Denmark, we are intensifying cooperation for the benefit of security in both Ukraine and the rest of Europe,” says Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.
