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UKRAINE

Ukraine’s President Zelensky to address Danish parliament

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the Danish and Swedish parliaments in the coming days, one month into the Russian invasion of his country, the two assemblies said Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressing the Ukrainian people during a broadcast speech
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressing the Ukrainian people during a broadcast speech. Photo: AFP/Ritzau Scanpix

Zelensky has made multiple appearances by video link before parliaments in other countries. 

The Ukrainian government leader will address the Folketing in Denmark on March 29th.

“The president will give an orientation on the situation in Ukraine and thank the Danish people for the support that has been shown for his country,” the Danish parliament said in a statement.

“Since conditions in Ukraine can change at short notice, there is a level of uncertainty about the occasion. It may, as such, be necessary to change or cancel the meeting at short notice,” it added.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Denmark, Mykhailo Vydoinyk, was given a standing ovation when he visited the Danish parliament earlier this month.

Zelensky’s speech to Sweden’s Riksdag is scheduled for this Thursday at 10:55 am, the parliament said.

“I’m honoured that the president of Ukraine wants to address parliament during a raging war,” said speaker Andreas Norlen.

  
Less than a week after Russian troops invaded on February 24th, Zelensky spoke to MEPs in the European Parliament on March 1st.

Since then, he has addressed the US Congress, as well as British, Canadian and German lawmakers among others.

On Wednesday, Zelensky was to speak to the French National Assembly, and on Thursday he is due to address an extraordinary NATO summit.

Kyiv, which has received large deliveries of mainly anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons from the West, is now calling for “offensive weapons” as deterrence against the Russian army.

Denmark has sent lethal aid to Ukraine in the form of 2,700 anti-tank weapons.

Sweden has delivered 5,000 anti-tank launchers to Ukraine, breaking its doctrine of not sending weapons to countries in active conflict for the first time since 1939.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How Ukrainians can apply for residence and work permits in Denmark

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DENMARK AND UKRAINE

Denmark earmarks 2.3 billion kroner for artillery to Ukraine

Denmark's government has announced that the Nordic country will donate 2.3 billion kroner ($337 million) to pay for artillery pieces, mortars and ammunition for Ukraine as it fights off Russia's invasion.

Denmark earmarks 2.3 billion kroner for artillery to Ukraine

It said the donation will pay for French-made Caesar artillery systems, mortars and ammunition to go with them and will be financed through a fund set up for Ukraine, valued at 69.1 billion kroner.

“Artillery systems and mortars are highly sought after by Ukraine”, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a statement on Tuesday.

“These donations are being made in cooperation with our allies and are an important signal that on a broad front we are supporting Ukraine.”

The Caesars are financed in cooperation with France, while 155mm shells to go with them are funded jointly with Estonia and the Czech Republic, the government said.

It did not give specific details of the arrangements for channelling the funds and sending the arms to Ukraine.

Kyiv has appealed for more arms, warning that it is running out of ammunition as it tries to fight off Russia.

In January, France announced a coalition to supply Ukraine with more artillery, bringing together more than 50 countries, and provided funding to buy 12 additional pieces produced by France’s Nexter, while calling on its allies to fund more.

Denmark is the fourth largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, according to the German based Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

The country signed a 10-year security agreement with Kyiv at the end of February, following similar agreements signed by Berlin, London and Paris.

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