Zelensky has landed in Denmark for the opening of the Danish EU presidency

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has landed in Denmark, a few days after Denmark took over the presidency of the EU, which lasts for half a year and is marked on Thursday.

This is confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office in a press release.

“Ukraine belongs in the EU. It is in both Denmark’s and Europe’s interest. Therefore, the Danish presidency will do everything we can to help Ukraine on their path to EU membership,” says Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (S).

The Danish government is a strong supporter of admitting Ukraine into both the EU and the defense alliance NATO and will use part of the presidency to fight for the former.

Zelensky arrived at Aarhus Airport near Aarhus on Thursday morning.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the rest of the commission, as well as the Danish government, are gathered in Aarhus to mark the opening of the EU presidency.

“Denmark’s quick and focused approach gets things done. It is exactly the kind of mindset Europe needs right now. A sense of urgency,” writes Ursula von der Leyen on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has a close relationship with both von der Leyen and the Ukrainian president, whom she has visited several times since the war broke out when Russia invaded in full force in 2022.

The parties will discuss how to do as much as possible to support Ukraine during the Danish presidency, including the country’s path to EU membership.

“Ukraine is crucial for Europe’s security. Our contribution to Ukraine is also a defense of our freedom. We do the other with sanctions. We must increase the pressure on Russia,” says Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Increased military support, cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry, and new sanctions against Russia are also themes at the meeting.

As the only one of 27 member states, Hungary has blocked for a year that the EU can start negotiations with Ukraine about joining the union in the long term. During the presidency, Denmark will intensify the pressure on Ukraine.

It has been a year and a half since the European leaders decided at a summit to open negotiations for membership for Ukraine and Moldova.

Since then, nothing has happened due to Hungary’s blockade, which will be one of the major focus areas during the Danish presidency, where Denmark leads the meetings between member states and must ensure progress in EU policy.

This is the eighth time Denmark has held the presidency. It will last for half a year and mean that Denmark hosts summits, ministerial meetings, and a long series of international visitors.

Recently, Mette Frederiksen criticized in Politiken that Zelensky did not have a more prominent role at an important summit in the NATO defense alliance, which Secretary General Mark Rutte planned.

Denmark is among Ukraine’s absolute largest economic supporters relative to its population.