Denmark backs creation of $21 billion Ukraine military support fund.

Denmark supports the creation of the Ukraine military support fund in the amount of 20 billion euros (£21 billion) for the next four years within the framework of the European Peace Facility, Ukrinform reported on Oct.

2, citing Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat, suggested in July to create a fund to reimburse member states' expenses on military support for Ukraine. The money is meant to partially cover both lethal and non-lethal equipment, allowing countries that adhere to the neutrality principle to contribute as well.

The European Peace Facility is a tool used to provide military aid to Ukraine and other partners of the EU. Rasmussen noted Denmark's past contributions to Ukraine's defense, namely its pledge to provide F-16 fighter jets to bolster Kyiv's air force capabilities. Denmark's foreign minister also said that Copenhagen wants to open a new diplomatic office in Mykolaiv.

"At the request of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, we are taking separate responsibility for the restoration of Mykolaiv and the entire oblast," Rasmussen said in Kyiv ahead of the meeting of the EU foreign ministers. "On Thursday, the office in Mykolaiv will become operational." The EU's foreign ministers are convening in Kyiv on Oct.

2 for the first Foreign Affairs Council meeting held outside the bloc's borders. Borrell said that the meeting will address the present and future support by Europe for Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression.

EU foreign ministers convene in Kyiv "We are convening a historic meeting of EU Foreign Ministers here in Ukraine, candidate country and future member of the EU," Josep Borrell wrote on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Martin Fornusek

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent.

He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press.

He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukrainer.

Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.