Ukraine and Denmark agree on initiating Ukrainian military manufacturing on Danish territory
A significant milestone has been reached in the defense industry cooperation between Ukraine and Denmark, with the signing of a landmark agreement on July 4, 2025. This pact marks the first time Ukrainian weapons systems will be produced on NATO territory, as Ukrainian defense manufacturers establish production facilities in Denmark.
The agreement was signed by Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Ukraine’s Minister for Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin, and Denmark’s Minister for Industry Morten Bødskov. The signing ceremony took place in Copenhagen alongside Danish Industry Minister Morten Bodskov.
The primary goal of this cooperation is to support Ukraine’s wartime defense needs while integrating its technological innovations into Europe’s broader security architecture. Establishing production facilities in Denmark will protect Ukrainian defense production from Russian missile threats and enhance access to European expertise and funding.
Denmark is committing significant funding to support the relocation and launch of Ukrainian production in Denmark. The initial investment is approximately €67 million (500 million Danish kroner) from the Danish Ukraine Fund. In 2025, defense support is expected to scale up to over €1.3 billion, part of which comes from frozen Russian assets.
Denmark was the first country to finance weapons production by Ukrainian companies and has now become the first to host Ukrainian defense technologies for joint manufacturing. The "Danish model" of military assistance involves direct financing and procurement of weapons from Ukrainian defense companies, supporting Ukraine’s defense industrial base with NATO-standard technology.
The exported defense technologies will be specifically for supply to Ukraine’s own Armed Forces. This cooperation is seen as a "new chapter" in international defense collaboration, strengthening ties and expanding access to European resources.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 21, 2023, that Kyiv would soon begin exporting defense technologies. To scale up domestic and international production, President Zelensky has called on foreign partners to finance new projects and match Ukraine’s rapidly growing manufacturing capacity.
Denmark has been a key supporter of Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. This ongoing cooperation between Ukraine and Denmark is a unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry, as Ukraine's defense production internationalization efforts include the planned export of defense technologies and the opening of weapons production lines in partner countries. The deal marks the first time Ukrainian defense technologies will be exported abroad, and now, Denmark has become the first to host Ukrainian arms production lines on its territory.
References: [1] BBC News. (2025). Ukraine and Denmark sign landmark defense deal. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61384401
[2] Reuters. (2025). Ukraine signs deal to produce weapons in Denmark. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-signs-deal-produce-weapons-denmark-2025-07-04/
[3] The Kyiv Independent. (2025). Ukraine and Denmark sign agreements on defense cooperation. [online] Available at: https://www.kyivindependent.com/ukraine-world/ukraine-denmark-sign-defense-cooperation-agreements-5914268/
[4] The Washington Post. (2025). Ukraine and Denmark sign deal to produce weapons in Denmark. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ukraine-and-denmark-sign-deal-to-produce-weapons-in-denmark/2025/07/04/9a7c33e0-c097-11ed-b3f5-1c0c2a5c2d6c_story.html
- The landmark defense agreement signed on July 4, 2025, by Ukraine's and Denmark's respective ministers, marks the first time European funding and expertise will be used to produce Ukrainian weapons systems, enhancing the country's war-and-conflicts preparedness.
- Denmark's significant investment of around €67 million from the Danish Ukraine Fund, as well as prospective funding from frozen Russian assets, plays a crucial role in the establishment of Ukrainian defense production facilities in Denmark, furthering the integration of Ukrainian aerospace technologies into Europe's general-news sphere.
- With Ukraine set to export defense technologies to its own Armed Forces, the collaboration between the two countries represents a new chapter in international defense relations, forging strong ties and expanding access to European resources and finance in the industry.
