Denmark is sending 1.1 billion kroner in new military aid to Ukraine, targeting the country’s navy, tank maintenance, and the training of Ukrainian troops. The funding is part of Denmark’s 27th donation package, totalling 2.7 billion kroner for 2025–2028, and financed through the Ukraine Fund.
“It is absolutely crucial that Denmark continues to support Ukraine’s defence effort at all levels,” said Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen in a statement.
The announcement comes amid a sharp decline in Western military assistance to Kyiv, raising fresh concerns about Europe’s capacity—and political will—to sustain Ukraine’s defences.
Western Support Declines as the U.S. Urges Allies to Step Up
According to a report by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Western military donations to Ukraine dropped 43 percent in July and August compared to the first half of the year.
During the first six months, Western support averaged nearly 30 billion kroner per month. That figure fell to just over 17 billion kroner in mid-summer, a drop that analysts warn will soon affect Ukraine’s battlefield position.
“Ukraine needs a steady flow of equipment to withstand Russian pressure,” said Christine Nissen, chief analyst at the Danish think tank Europa, which specializes in defence and security policy. “When support falls this sharply, it doesn’t take long before you feel it on the front lines.”
Empty Warehouses, Not Waning Commitment
Despite the decline, experts caution against interpreting the slowdown as a loss of commitment. Nissen argues that the issue is logistical, not political.
“Many European countries have simply run down their stockpiles. They can’t just send what they don’t have. New production takes time,” she said.
Humanitarian and financial aid, she noted, has remained stable throughout the year. Meanwhile, a growing share of Western support is being channelled into Ukraine’s domestic arms production—an investment that could make the country less dependent on foreign weapons in the long run.
The U.S. Pulls Back—But Its Weapons Still Flow
The Kiel Institute also reports a dramatic drop in U.S. support. American military donations fell from more than 12 billion kroner per month last year to less than one billion during the first half of 2025—and to zero in July and August.
The halt followed Donald Trump’s return to office, after which Washington stopped direct military funding for Ukraine and urged European allies to take over financing.
“The Americans stopped sending weapons when Trump was elected president,” said Nissen. “But American weapons still reach Ukraine—Europe is now footing the bill.”
NATO Calls for Renewed Resolve
Ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to buy more American arms for Ukraine, emphasizing that strength, not rhetoric, ensures peace.
“You achieve peace when you are strong—not when you use strong language or raise your finger,” Hegseth said, according to Reuters.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed the call, stressing that member states must ensure Ukraine continues to fight under the best possible conditions.
Bottom Line
Denmark’s new billion-kroner package underscores a clear message: even as overall Western support wavers, some nations remain committed to keeping Ukraine armed, trained, and afloat. The question now is whether that resolve can outlast both political fatigue and the physical limits of Europe’s military stockpiles.
The Nordic Business Journal provides independent economic and business analysis across the Nordic region. For daily updates and in-depth reports, visit nordicbusinessjournal.com.