Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has given an interview to the state media house Rossiya Segodnya in which he directly threatens Denmark for its support of Ukraine. The interview is published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website. Lavrov is clearly annoyed by Denmark’s active role, and the threats of retaliation are more explicit this time.
“We have repeatedly warned that Denmark, its patrons and allies, by providing massive military assistance to the Ukrainian Nazis, are provoking an escalation of the conflict, forcing Russia to take appropriate measures to ensure its security, including of a military-technical nature,” says the Russian Foreign Minister.
Denmark has delivered F-16s to Ukraine on two occasions. The most recent Danish delivery of F-16s took place in December. The donation also included training for Ukrainian pilots and a range of equipment and spare parts to enable Ukraine to operate the aircraft.
In total, Denmark has donated 19 F-16s to Ukraine.
Lavrov points out that Denmark is at the top of the list of countries that provide the most financial support to Ukraine.</p
Denmark also gives five times more in arms aid than France, Italy and Spain – combined, according to figures from German think tank Kiel Institut für Weltwirtschaft, published back in February this year.
Sergey Lavrov also comments directly on Denmark’s large donations.
“Copenhagen is one of the largest arms donors to Kyiv, participates in the training of Ukrainian militants and the supply of mercenaries to the combat zone, and finances the production of military equipment in Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises using revenues from frozen Russian assets,” he says in the interview.
All this, according to Lavrov, provokes “an escalation of the conflict,” he says and continues:
“Which forces Russia to take appropriate measures to ensure its security, including of a military-technical nature.”
Denmark’s support has been formidable. Norway is way down the list.
Now Lavrov says that Denmark has escalated and can expect reactions. That they will be of a military-technical nature sounds worrying, even if Danish defence experts downplay the threats.
It is also worth noting that Lavrov refers to Ukraine arming itself with frozen Russian assets in Western banks.
Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen takes the threats calmly.
“I see this as part of a very well-organised propaganda campaign against the Western countries, which fortunately support Ukraine’s struggle for independence,” says Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
Mette Frederiksen has stated that the Ukrainians are welcome to use Danish weapons inside Russian territory.
Among other things, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S) announced on TV 2 News that Ukraine is allowed to use donated weapons from Denmark out of Ukraine and into Russian targets if it is within international law.
In a written comment, Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, said that Mette Frederiksen’s statement could “lead to an uncontrolled development of the conflict”.
https://www.berlingske.dk/internationalt/russisk-udenrigsminister-advarer-danmark-mod-vaabenstoette-til