Denmark is the first Scandinavian country to re-open its embassy in Kyiv.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeppe Kofod tweeted on May 2. “Just hoisted the flag over the Danish embassy in Kyiv. It is important that we reopen the embassy after Russia’s attack. Touching to meet both local employees and Danes who have remained in the capital in the past two months.”
According to Kofod, who is the second top Danish official to visit Ukraine following Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the embassy’s reopening is a strong symbol of Denmark’s support for Ukraine.
“Our diplomats have been working around the clock to facilitate Danish-Ukrainian relations. They have also been helping Danes and Ukrainians who have found themselves in a predicament after Russia attacked the country. Right now, we are in the heart of the capital, and I am overjoyed,” he said.
For the time being, the embassy will continue to work with limited staff as diplomats return on a gradual basis.
Kofod’s visit comes against a backdrop of Russia’s violation of Danish and Swedish airspace. On April 29, a Russian spy plane entered Danish airspace east of the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm before flying into Swedish airspace.
“Russia’s minister will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow. This is yet another violation of Danish airspace by Russia [which] is totally unacceptable and very worrying in the current situation,” Kofod tweeted on May 1.
Sweden, whose airspace and waters have been repeatedly violated by Russia over the years, is likewise summoning the Russian Ambassador who previously said that “Russia doesn’t give a shit about sanctions.”
Unlike Sweden, Denmark has been a NATO member state since 1949.
However, Stockholm alongside neutral Helsinki has reportedly changed their minds and is planning to file membership bids to the alliance in the coming months. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has expressed firm support for their applications.
In response, Russia has already promised a nuclear military build-up in the Baltic Sea with rockets pointing at the two countries.
