Denmark and Ukraine have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin joint drone production and defense training, with EU funding to support shared projects. The deal allows Ukrainian defense firms to co-manufacture drones in Denmark, combining Kyiv’s battlefield experience with Nordic technology and organization. Denmark, holding the EU presidency and one of Ukraine’s strongest allies, has been increasingly targeted by Russian hybrid attacks. Ukrainian instructors are already in Denmark, teaching how to operate and counter drones without using costly interceptors like Patriot missiles—an approach blending tactical innovation with economic efficiency. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the partnership a step toward a “European anti-drone shield,” noting that Ukrainian expertise can now help protect the continent’s skies. In recent joint drills, a Ukrainian Sting interceptor successfully destroyed a Danish target drone, underscoring the project’s promise. According to the Kiel Institute, Denmark is Europe’s top supporter of Ukraine relative to GDP, followed by Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The so-called “Danish model”—funding Ukraine to produce its own weapons—has become an example for others, strengthening both Kyiv’s defense and Europe’s autonomy. This cooperation marks a new phase in Nordic-European security: blending Ukraine’s wartime innovation with Denmark’s leadership to build a shared, self-reliant defense framework for a more vulnerable continent.
