Kyiv struck a landmark deal with Denmark Friday that paves the way for Ukrainian companies to jointly produce weapons on Danish soil.
This marks the first occasion Kyiv has decided to establish military production sites abroad, aiming to counteract the intensifying Russian aggression in its conflict with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Denmark is contributing $5 million to this initiative, which is designed to aid Ukrainian defense startups, as noted by Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin on Facebook after the signing ceremony in Copenhagen.
Expanding its arms manufacturing in allied nations enables Ukraine to bolster its defense capabilities and create more robust supply chains, following its heavy dependence on foreign military assistance during its war with Moscow that’s lasted over three years.
The historic deal also comes after the US halted weapon shipments to Ukraine on Tuesday over concerns with its own dwindling stockpile.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the deal “important decision.”
“Our first agreement on weapons production for Ukraine in Europe. Coproduction between Ukraine and Denmark. This is paramount both in terms of security and investment,” he wrote on X.
The deal comes amid renewed Russian aerial offensives aimed at capturing more Ukrainian land, leaving Kyiv’s short-handed defenses under severe strain — Moscow’s missiles and drones battered Ukrainian cities this week.
The Denmark deal is part of a broader focus by Kyiv to internationalize its arms production.
Zelensky reached another major deal earlier this week that pairs Ukraine with a private US drone company, just as the Pentagon halted weapon shipments to Ukraine on Tuesday over concerns with its own dwindling stockpile.
Under the terms, Swift Beat — founded by ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt — would supply hundreds of thousands of drones to Ukraine in 2025 at cost, with plans to ramp up production in 2026, Zelensky announced.
“We are scaling up joint arms production with our partners: long-range weapons to reduce Russia’s appetite for killing, and interceptor drones to protect our people,” he added on X.
Zelensky in a Friday phone call with President Trump also discussed defense production and investments. Trump characterized the conversation as “good” and Zelensky agreed to work on increasing Ukraine’s capability to “defend the sky.”
