Why Denmark became Europe’s quiet leader on Ukraine aid

Almost since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Denmark has stood out among Kyiv’s allies. A small northern European state, geographically removed from the battlefield, has quietly become one of Ukraine’s most consistent and innovative backers.

According to a Bloomberg opinion piece, there is no single explanation for this Danish exception. Instead, political will, fiscal strength, history, and circumstance all play a role. Together they have made Copenhagen one of the largest per-capita contributors to Ukraine’s defence, and the seventh-largest overall.

That leadership was on display again on October 2, when Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen hosted an informal summit of European leaders. She steered discussions firmly toward the threat from the east, Europe’s vulnerability to hybrid warfare, and the need to build up collective defence.

Her message was blunt: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not just about Ukraine — it is also a direct attack on Europe.

Frederiksen urged fellow leaders to stop dithering and to use Moscow’s frozen assets for Ukraine’s defence, stressing that all European states are vulnerable in an era of drones and long-range missiles.

As Bloomberg notes, this was hardly the first such call from a European leader: France’s Emmanuel Macron has been equally forceful, but Denmark’s example has carried unusual weight.

The numbers illustrate why. As of June, France had contributed €7.56 billion in total aid to Ukraine. Denmark, with an economy almost four times smaller, had already given €10.1 billion.

One striking example of Copenhagen’s commitment is its partnership with the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv. Denmark agreed to take responsibility for reconstruction even while the city was under daily Russian bombardment. By August 2025, it had spent €213 million in the region, with another €225 million pledged over the next three years.

Equally important is the so-called “Danish Model” for arms procurement. Recognising that Ukraine has the capacity to produce weapons but not the funds to buy them, Copenhagen set up a mechanism to purchase Ukrainian-made systems and deliver them directly to the front.

The model has been adopted by several other allies and has proven cost-effective. For example, Ukraine’s self-propelled Bohdana howitzers cost around $2.5 million each and can be produced in three months, compared to $4.2 million for France’s Caesar system or more than $10 million for Sweden’s Archer artillery.

Why Denmark? Bloomberg identifies several reasons. Denmark has among the lowest public debt in Europe, giving it fiscal room to act. Unlike larger states, it lacks a major arms industry of its own to protect, making it easier to back what is most effective for Ukraine rather than what benefits domestic producers.

History also matters. As University of Copenhagen historian Rasmus Molgaard Mariager explained, Denmark remembers being a frontline state during the Cold War and suffering losses to larger powers for centuries before that. Such experiences have made Danes acutely aware of the need to defend international rules that protect smaller states from bigger ones.

Finally, there is pragmatism. Supporting Ukraine is not only about solidarity; it is about ensuring the survival of the very principle that protects Denmark itself.

As Europe debates how to release Russian funds, strengthen defences, and expand the EU, Bloomberg concludes that its leaders would do well to heed Denmark’s example. The Danes, it argues, “already nailed it.”

By Sabina Mammadli