Denmark will donate military equipment and provide financial support to Ukraine, – total aid amounting to 1.7 billion Danish kroner (228 million euros or 249.81 million dollars), the Dane announced today Defense Minister Trolls Lund Poulsen.

The minister said Denmark would reduce its military presence in Iraq from early 2024 and instead focus on armed forces in the Baltic states, offering NATO a battalion to protect that region.

The battalion is to number between 700 and 1,200 soldiers and is expected to deploy to Latvia for four to six months each year.

In the remaining months of the year, the troops will remain in Denmark, ready to be deployed to the Baltic states in the event of a crisis, the defense ministry announced.

“We have to prepare that Denmark’s presence in the Baltic countries will be long-term, and that there is a need for a balance between having soldiers on the ground and being ready for their deployment from Denmark.”Poulsen said.

Denmark will withdraw one of its nearly 105-strong security and escort units in Iraq from February 2024, but will continue to provide personnel and advice to the NATO mission in Iraq, the defense ministry said.

The amount of 1.7 billion kroner is “Denmark’s largest donation to date”, the ministry underlined in a statement.

The donation, which includes mainly armored vehicles, and mortar shells and mobile military bridges, brings Denmark’s military aid to Ukraine to 11 billion kroner (€1.47 billion or $1.61 billion) since the start of the Russian invasion.

“The equipment contained within the package is critical to pave the way for Ukraine’s front-line tanks and armored vehicles.”said the interim defense minister.

In January, Denmark gave Ukraine 19 French-made Caesar artillery systems and announced in April that it would buy 14 Leopard 2 tanks with the Netherlands to give to Ukraine.