Ukraine should be considered Europe’s line of defence – Frederiksen
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that ending support for Ukraine would put Europe and NATO in a more dangerous position. She urged European countries to ensure continued funding for Ukraine and develop their own technologies to reduce dependence on other countries and private companies.
She made the remarks ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels, Censor.NET reports, citing Ukrinform.
Commenting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s remarks about betrayal by the United States, the Danish prime minister declined to assess specific statements but stressed the importance of continued support for Kyiv.
"I will not enter into a discussion about specific words spoken by colleagues. But failing to support Ukraine would put all of Europe and, in my view, all of NATO in a much more dangerous position," she said.
Frederiksen stressed that funding for Ukraine for the coming period must be secured in the next few days.
"If we allow Ukraine to fall, then, in my view, we will open the way for Russia to advance in other parts of Europe. That is why we must continue to regard Ukraine as Europe’s line of defence," the head of the Danish government said.
Denmark sees dependence on Starlink as a problem for Europe
Frederiksen also commented on Ukraine’s dependence on the Starlink satellite communications system and the influence of its owner, Elon Musk.
"There is only one way to describe this: it is deeply problematic. And it is yet another example of tech giants gaining too much power and influence," the prime minister said. She stressed the importance of preserving Ukrainians’ access to the services they need.
According to Frederiksen, Europe’s lack of its own alternative to Starlink is part of a broader problem of dependence on other countries and companies. This concerns not only technology but also energy and supplies of critical minerals and raw materials.
"We need to develop our own alternatives in many areas very quickly. This also applies to the capabilities we need for our defence. We must expand European production, and here, unfortunately, we are lagging behind," Frederiksen stressed.
