In a state visit that was in danger of being overshadowed by Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, who was also in town, the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen came to discuss the war and reinforced her reputation as a steadfast supporter of Ukraine.
As a founding member of the so-called “F-16 fighter coalition,” Denmark is one of the strongest advocates for providing aircraft to Ukraine.
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Frederiksen and Blinken arrived on the same train and on the trip discussed the thorny issue of the provision of fighters.
Blinken thanked her for the leadership Denmark has shown in arranging training on the F-16 for Ukrainian pilots and for the promise to donate fighter jets to Ukraine, State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller posted on the State Department website.
In August, Frederiksen committed to providing a total of 19 aircraft in the next two years, saying. “Please take this donation as a token of Denmark’s unwavering support for your country’s fight for freedom.”
The first deliveries of six of the fighters have been promised before the end of 2023.
The Danish TV2 channel, which is covering Frederiksen’s visit, said that prior to coming to the Verkhovna Rada she had visited Bucha and studied the photo exhibition of war crimes committed by the Russian military during the occupation in the town’s church, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
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The Ukrainian Interfax channel reported her as saying: “Over the past 18 months, I have visited Ukraine several times. The destruction caused by the war is amazing. The brutality of Russian destruction. Families who have lost their homes. Mothers who had to say goodbye to their sons. Words cannot describe what you had to go through.
“You and Ukraine are still standing. The world has seen the incredible strength of the Ukrainian people,” she added.
The Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak, who is head of the 20-member Holos party group in the Verkhovna Rada commented about her address to the parliament on his Telegram channel and wrote: “The Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen is speaking in Parliament.” Then he added “Thank you for the F-16s.”
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