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Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Western Europe should supply weapons to Ukraine faster, Poland and Denmark say

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki talk prior to a meeting in the Prime Minister's Office, in Copenhagen, Denmark, February 23, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS

Western European countries should be faster and more generous in supplying Ukraine with weapons, the prime ministers of Poland and Denmark said after meeting in Copenhagen on Thursday.

"I would like them to be exactly like Denmark and Poland. A longer version is to be more generous in terms of weapon delivery and more quick," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters.

Poland, a key ally of Ukraine, has been instrumental in convincing European allies to donate heavy gear to Ukraine, including tanks, a move opposed by several countries until recently.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attend a news conference in Christiansborg, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 23, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS

"Let's be frank. If not for the United States, Poland and the United Kingdom, probably Ukraine would not have survived the first couple of weeks or the first couple of months," Morawiecki said.

"It's just strengthening the NATO alliance, some sceptical countries should no longer be sceptical."    Speaking on the eve of the anniversary of the start of the war Morawiecki and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen stressed the urgency of delivering support to Kyiv as Europe could not allow Ukraine to be defeated.

   "We need to be aware that we don't have a lot of time. So we need to speed up our financial support, our military help, we need more donations and we need to work very closely together to make sure they have the capacities they need" Frederiksen said.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomes Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at Christiansborg Castle, the Danish Parliament building, in Copenhagen, Denmark, February 23, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS

(Reporting by Anna Koper, Marek Strzelecki, and Nikolaj Skydsgaard; Editing by Alison Williams, Kirsten Donovan)

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomes Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at Christiansborg Castle, the Danish Parliament building, in Copenhagen, Denmark, February 23, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS
Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attends a news conference with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Christiansborg, Copenhagen, Denmark, February 23, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Liselotte Sabroe via REUTERS
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