Ukraine is strengthening defense cooperation with the Northern European countries

Ukraine's Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, paid a working visit to Denmark, where he held a series of important talks with defense ministers from Northern Europe countries and allies.  

The talks' primary focus was on plans for military assistance to Ukraine in 2025, joint defense projects, and fostering new avenues for cooperation.

During a meeting with Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Rustem Umerov expressed his gratitude to Denmark, one of Ukraine's key defense partners. The parties agreed to increase Denmark's military support for Ukraine in 2025 to €2.2 billion. 

This assistance will serve as the foundation for training Ukrainian brigades and providing them with advanced military equipment.

During the meeting, participants also discussed continuing collaboration under the ‘Danish model’ to support Ukraine's defense sector. The new approach, the “Danish Model 2.0,” facilitates investments in Ukraine's defense enterprises and accelerates weapons delivery.

The visit also inaugurated a new framework for Ukraine's collaboration with the Northern Group, an alliance comprising 12 countries: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

The first meeting in this format was held in Copenhagen, with the next meeting planned to take place in Ukraine.

During the talks with Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to expand support for Ukraine in 2024-2027. 

In particular, Estonia plans to allocate 0.25% of its GDP to provide material assistance to the Ukrainian military, fund the IT coalition, and support the training of Ukrainian service members.

A meeting was also held with Vice Prime Minister of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom Lord Vernon Coaker.

Poland has confirmed its commitment to providing further aid packages to Ukraine, while the United Kingdom emphasized its ongoing support for Ukraine in 2025, mainly through the strengthening of defense industry cooperation.