President Biden met with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen at the White House on Monday, where he praised the Danes for “standing up” for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
“There’s a shared commitment to the core values and that gives us our strength—at least that’s what I believe,” Biden said Monday. “Together we’re working to protect those values—including standing up for the people of Ukraine against the brutal aggression of the Russians.”
And late Monday night the President tweeted, “Proud to have Denmark as a NATO Ally and partner as we continue to protect our shared values and confront global challenges.”
As of last month, Denmark had donated a total of nearly $1.4 billion dollars (9.5 billion Danish kroner) in military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, including $250 million on May 2.
In February, Denmark was one of three European countries that announced it would donate refurbished German Leopard 1 battle tanks to Ukraine.
In May, Denmark offered to host a proposed global peace summit where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could press his 10-point plan for ending the war—though both France and Sweden have also offered to be the host nation.
Fredericksen told Biden on Monday, “I am looking forward to working even closer with you on defense and security.”
Though European plans to donate American-made F-16 fighter jets were not mentioned in the two leaders’ remarks, a White House statement noted Denmark’s “significant security assistance to Ukraine and its leadership in training Ukrainian pilots.”
Biden’s sit-down with the Prime Minister of Denmark is one of two high-value meetings he has planned this week. On Thursday Biden will meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
