Denmark plans to procure arms and ammunition valued at approximately 830 million euros ($934 million) from the Ukrainian defense sector in 2025. This initiative will utilize frozen Russian assets and be executed on behalf of the European Union through the European Peace Facility. The objective is to bolster the Ukrainian defense industry, which is expected to facilitate competitive pricing and enable quicker adaptations to meet Ukraine’s specific military needs.
The Danish Ministry of Defence emphasized that this procurement will provide Ukrainian soldiers with equipment they are already trained on, allowing for ease of maintenance. “With the ‘Danish Model’, Denmark has taken the lead in international efforts to boost defense production in Ukraine,” stated Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen. He noted that the additional funding from the EU underscores recognition of Denmark’s ongoing initiatives in this area.
Denmark was the pioneer in investing in the Ukrainian defense industry, aiming to obtain arms and equipment for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In 2024, Copenhagen allocated 400 million euros ($450 million) through Russian assets approximated at $300 billion. Contributions from the EU, along with the Danish Ukraine Fund and allied nations, led Denmark to allocate a total of around 4.4 billion Danish kroner ($663 million) in 2024 for procurement, which included 18 Bohdana self-propelled howitzers. For 2025, Denmark anticipates significantly increasing this funding.
From 2025 to 2027, a total budget of 3 billion Danish kroner ($452 million) is earmarked for further procurement from the Ukrainian defense industry. During a visit to Ukraine to engage with various defense industry firms, Minister Poulsen expressed confidence in the potential for direct support through local procurements. He emphasized that this approach not only meets the urgent military needs of Ukraine but also offers logistical advantages while contributing to the sustainable development of Ukraine’s defense capabilities for the future.
