Denmark hands over all of its artillery shells to Kyiv

DENMARK’S prime minister has announced her country is handing over all of its shells to Ukraine as she urged other European states to provide more weapons.

“We decided to donate our entire artillery,” said Mette Frederiksen at the Munich Security Conference, suggesting that other European nations should follow suit.

“I’m sorry to say friends, there is still ammunition in stock in Europe,” she said.

“This is not only a question about production because we have weapons, we have ammunition, we have our defences that we don’t have to use at the moment, that we should deliver to Ukraine. We have to do more.”

Ms Frederiksen said Denmark will soon deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and is still seeking more partners to supply the advanced fighter planes.

She acknowledged that Nato countries have done a lot to aid Ukraine in its war, but added: “I think it’s quite clear to all of us that it’s not enough. We have to speed up and scale up.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has rattled nerves throughout the Nordics.

Sweden and Finland applied for Nato membership in May 2022, soon after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Denmark said it is reviewing its existing military funding owing to the increasing threat.

Also speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country’s “artificial deficit of weapons” will only help Russia.

“Keeping Ukraine in the artificial deficits of weapons, particularly in deficit of artillery and long-range capabilities allows Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war,” he said.

“Ukrainians have proven that we can force Russia to retreat,” he added. “We can get our land back.”

Nato allies have been warning that Russia is rapidly growing its armed forces to prepare for potential invasion of the Baltics.

Russia recently placed several Baltic politicians on a wanted list for destroying Soviet-era monuments.

Yesterday, Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister, dismissed a warrant issued by Russia for her arrest, saying it was just an attempt to intimidate her amid speculation she could get a top European Union post.