The Danish parliament agreed to the increase Thursday, as the country's political parties were in agreement that "further significant military support for Ukraine this year" was needed, according to the ministry.
The additional funds into the country's Ukraine Fund are on top of the nearly $2 billion it has already set aside for its besieged ally this year. However, most of that funding had already been allocated.
According to figures from the military, the Danish government seeks to spend about $9.3 billion on Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion between 2023 and 2028.
"From the start of the war, Denmark has been one of the most active donor countries. We must continue to be so, and that is why I am delighted that a broad majority of the parties in the Folketing support us adding another [$633 million] to the Ukraine Fund," Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said in a statement.
The Folketing is the name of Denmark's parliament.
"It is absolutely crucial that we show the Ukrainians that we stand behind them in the current serious situation," he said.
The Ukraine Fund provides Kyiv with direct military support in the form of weapons, military equipment and training efforts, the defense ministry said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to thank the Danish parliament online.
"We appreciate Denmark's willingness to respond to the urgent needs of Ukrainian defenders and share the strategic vision that the stronger Ukraine is, the stronger all of Europe will be," he said on X.
According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which is tracking military support for Ukraine, Denmark is Kyiv's fourth largest backer behind the United States, Germany and Britain.
The announcement came a day after the United States announced a $1 billion military support package for Ukraine. The package's unveiling followed the U.S. Congress agreeing to a supplemental bill that included an additional $60 billion for Kyiv's defense.
In east Ukraine, exhausted troops eagerly await new US weapons
Ukraine, Ukraine (AFP) April 25, 2024 -
Exhausted Ukrainian soldiers near the front line were eagerly awaiting the arrival of desperately needed US weapons Thursday, with some bitter at how much the long wait has cost them.
After being held-up by political wrangling for six months, US President Joe Biden on Wednesday gave final approval to a $61 billion package of aid to Kyiv, saying weapons shipments will begin "right away".
Dependent on Western support to counter Russia's invasion and tired by more than two years of war, Ukraine has struggled to hold back Moscow's forces.
"It's good," Oleskiy, a bearded 38-year-old serviceman said of the green light from Washington.
"But a little earlier would have been better," he added wryly.
As the flow of weapons slowed, Russian forces gained some ground and momentum on the battlefield: capturing the eastern hub of Avdiivka and some villages around it.
They have also made advances near the strategically important town of Chasiv Yar and have launched a relentless wave of aerial strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Oleksiy, who declined to give his last name, said Kyiv would "not have had such losses of men and territory" had the aid come sooner.
Soldiers hoped the fresh weapons could at least slightly turn the tide for Kyiv, outgunned and outmanned by a far larger force.
- 'Retreating' -
Russian forces were "pushing back our positions, destroying them," Oleksiy said.
"We are retreating," he added.
He said Ukrainian troops were especially dependent on artillery -- without which "the infantry can't do anything" -- as well as armoured vehicles that allow them to retrieve wounded and dead soldiers.
"We can get our men (with the vehicles)," Oleksiy said.
In the trenches nearby, a military chaplain was blessing both soldiers and tunnels that were being dug out.
Maksym, a 24-year-old soldier in the same area, had some hope that fresh US weapons could change the course of the war.
"I don't want to get ahead of myself but it's already something," he said.
- 'Nothing to launch an assault with' -
Asked what the troops needed most of all, he said: "Ammunition and artillery. Artillery keeps the infantry safe."
Yuri, a 30-year-old soldier, hoped for the delivery of "large calibre" weapons that he colloquially called "sweets".
At the moment, his men lack the weapons to push forward and can only hold their positions.
"We are on the defensive. There is nothing to launch an assault with," he said.
He said new weapons would allow the troops to counter-attack.
Oleksiy said that his unit had enough Ukrainian ammunition but hoped for "armoured vehicles, artillery and long-range shells."
"This is where the Russians have the advantage."
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