President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen visited Odesa and held talks on key aspects of bilateral cooperation.
The Head of State noted that Mette Frederiksen had arrived in Ukraine at the head of a powerful governmental delegation that also included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Jakob Ellemann-Jensen and Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
"This visit is an important symbol of Denmark's unwavering and powerful support for our struggle for freedom and common European values," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized during a conversation with media representatives following talks with the Danish delegation in Odesa.
According to the President, one of the key topics of the negotiations was defense.
"I am grateful to Denmark for its substantial assistance in strengthening our artillery, in particular for the fundamental decision to supply Caesar howitzers. I also personally thank Mrs. Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Defense for Denmark's readiness to join our tank coalition," the Head of State said.
The parties also discussed the possibility of strengthening air and naval defense of the south of Ukraine.
"The key issue here is speed. This applies to absolutely all our partners, all our friends who want to support Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
Representatives of Ukraine and Denmark discussed cooperation at the level of the European Union and Euro-Atlantic structures. They also discussed the continuation of sanctions against Russia and the approval of the 10th sanctions package.
"We will all work on this. We are preparing for the relevant summits. The summit that will take place in the coming days is the Ukraine-EU Summit. Also, today we will have time to discuss the upcoming NATO Summit scheduled for this year in Vilnius," the President noted.
The interlocutors also paid attention to economic cooperation and international efforts that can guarantee security for both the Ukrainian people and our country's partners.
"Today we discussed how Denmark could participate in the implementation of the Peace Formula. And I thank Mrs. Prime Minister for her clear assurance that Denmark will actively support this direction," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State also thanked Denmark for effective support in the reform of the justice system in Ukraine. He assured that our state would continue to develop the anti-corruption infrastructure.
For her part, the Danish Prime Minister noted that today's visit is a testament to the friendly relations between the two countries. She emphasized that she was impressed by Ukraine's struggle for freedom.
Mette Frederiksen assured Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Denmark will continue to support Ukraine, in particular in the military, humanitarian and reconstruction spheres, as the peoples of the two countries share fundamental democratic values: freedom, liberty and human rights.
"Denmark stands with you, and we will remain close friends and partners," the Danish Prime Minister emphasized.
In conclusion, Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Mette Frederiksen with the Order of Princess Olga of the First Degree recognizing her significant personal contribution to strengthening interstate cooperation, supporting Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity.
"Let this award symbolize that Ukraine will always be grateful to your beautiful, powerful state, your strong team and you personally, Mrs. Prime Minister, for your principled support for the people of Ukraine in this difficult time," the President summarized.
