The new Danish package comes amid US efforts to broker an end to hostilities between Moscow and Kiev

Denmark has announced a new military aid package worth $618 million for Ukraine, focusing on artillery munitions. The assistance comes as the US continues its efforts to achieve a settlement between Moscow and Kiev, which recently held their first direct talks in three years.

In a statement on Saturday, the Danish Defense Ministry said the assistance includes funding for artillery systems, ammunition, and equipment for Ukraine's air force. The support - worth 4.2 billion Danish kroner - covers the period up to 2028. It is being financed within the framework for military support under the EU's Ukraine Fund, and is reimbursed through the bloc's European Peace Facility.

A significant portion of the Danish aid has been allocated to the Czech Ammunition Initiative established in 2024 by Denmark, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands to finance the purchase of as many as 800,000 large-caliber shells for Ukraine.

The program, however, has faced criticism. An investigation by the US state-funded funded RFE/RL broadcaster and several other outlets revealed that Czech companies involved in procuring artillery shells for Ukraine charged commissions up to four times higher than Ukrainian state agencies. Additionally, some deliveries arrived later than scheduled, potentially impacting Ukraine's defense planning. In some cases, there have also been complaints of poor quality munitions.

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Ukraine has long complained about the lack of ammunition and Russian artillery superiority while imploring its Western backers to ramp up military deliveries, with European contractors often struggling to meet the soaring demand.

The announcement comes as the US under President Donald Trump continues its efforts to mediate the conflict. Last week, Russia and Ukraine held a two-hour meeting in Istanbul, which was their first direct peace talks since 2022. As a result, the sides exchanged lists of conditions for a potential ceasefire, agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange, and discussed the possibility of a follow-up round of talks.

Russia has consistently condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome while becoming an additional economic burden for ordinary taxpayers.

(RT.com)