The European and Ukrainian flags are displayed in front of the Altiero-Spinelli building, the European Parliament in Brussels on February 24, 2025. (Photo by John Thys / AFP)
Stockholm: Nordic and Baltic countries on Monday pledged to increase military aid to Ukraine, three years after the country was invaded by Russia.
The announcement came as leaders of Nordic and Baltic countries visited Kyiv, reiterating their support for Ukraine.
"The outcome of the war will have fundamental and long-lasting effects on European and transatlantic security," the presidents of Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine and the prime ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden said in a joint statement.
The countries also pledged to provide additional support for Ukraine, including "to provide equipment and training for a scalable brigade-sized unit," and investing in Ukraine's defence industry.
A brigade is generally 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers, the Norwegian government said.
In a separate statement, Norway said it was planning to use 3.5 billion Norwegian kroner ($315 million) for purchases from the Ukrainian defence industry.
An additional 600 million kroner was pledged for the purchase of drones and the development of drone technology for Ukraine.
"The military and civilian needs in Ukraine are enormous. Strengthening Ukraine's defence industry's ability to deliver military equipment to the front line is crucial," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said.
Meanwhile, Denmark said it was pledging two billion Danish kroner ($280 million) in military aid to Ukraine.
"We must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement.
"Now we must stand firm. Deliver more weapons. Faster. Donate to Ukraine's defence industry," Frederiksen added.
On Sunday, Denmark also announced it was pledging 405 million kroner for humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts.
Frederiksen last week stressed that Europe needs to massively rearm, citing an increasing threat from Russia.
Copenhagen also said this week it was increasing defence spending by 50 billion kroner over the next two years.
