Western countries pledge more than $1.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine

Danish Defense Minister Morten Bodskov said Western nations committed more than 1.5 billion euros ($1.55 billion) in cash, equipment and training on Thursday to boost Ukraine’s military capabilities in the war against Russia, Reuters reported on Aug. 12.

 The money will be used to supply existing weapons, missiles and ammunition, increase weapons production for Ukraine, train Ukrainian soldiers, and mine removal in war-torn areas of Ukraine.

 Speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Bodskov said that European countries will continue to assist Ukraine with its military needs, and that the meeting focused on long-term support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian invasion.

 Bodskov goes on to note that the defense ministers of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have expressed their willingness to expand the production of artillery systems, ammunition and other military equipment to Ukraine.

 Britain, which has already donated advanced weapons systems and provided military training for thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, pledged another 300 million euros on Thursday, including multiple-launch rocket systems and precision-guided M31A1 missiles that can strike targets up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) away.

 British Defense Minister Ben Wallace noted that Putin had bet that Europe would become insensitive with the conflict by August and that the international community would depart in different directions. However, things have turned out to be the opposite today, as democracies led by the U.S. and Europe have been standing with Ukraine.

 Ukraine said it had received another shipment of high-precision heavy weapons from Germany and the United States earlier this month.

 Moscow accuses the West of dragging out the conflict by supplying Ukraine with more weapons, noting that it is conducting a “special military operation” in Ukraine aimed at safeguarding Russia’s security and countering NATO expansion.