WASHINGTON -- Europe has been “too naive” about Russia and must do more to support Ukraine militarily, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on July 9.
“We work and we move too slowly. I think we have been too naive on Russia, too naive on China. We have to speed up, scale up as Europeans,” Frederiksen told a Council of Foreign Relations conference in Washington, where she is attending the July 9-11 NATO Summit.
“We have not been able to give Ukraine what they need to defend themselves,” she said, highlighting air-defense systems in particular.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has pleaded with NATO to give his country more air-defense systems, particularly Patriots, to defend against Russia’s persistent missile and drone attacks.
SEE ALSO: Condemnation Of Russia Mounts As Ukraine Counts Toll Of Attack On Children's HospitalRussia killed at least 41 people in Ukraine on the eve of the NATO summit in one of its largest bombing campaigns since it launched its invasion in February 2024.
During the summit, NATO allies are expected to announce new military aid to Ukraine, including air defense and F-16 fighter jets.
Denmark last year announced it would transfer some of its F-16s to Ukraine and Frederiksen said they would soon arrive in the country.
Denmark is now focused on helping Ukraine develop its domestic defense industry so it can produce weapons and ammunition locally and cut its dependence on foreign aid.
“They work much faster than the rest of Europe,” she said, referring to Ukraine.
'No Red Lines'
The Biden administration and some European allies, including Germany, have been cautious about giving Ukraine what it needs to defend itself, slow-rolling weapon systems amid fear of Russian escalation.
The Biden administration had refused to give Ukraine tanks, fighter jets, and long-range missiles only to acquiesce months or years later. It still does not allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with U.S. weapons. Germany has refused to give Ukraine its powerful Taurus cruise missile.
SEE ALSO: Biden Tells NATO Summit Russia 'Will Not Prevail,' Promises Ukraine New Air-Defense SystemsFrederiksen said Ukraine should not face such restrictions as it seeks to drive Russia from its territory.
“I think we have been reacting too slowly. I am not working with any red lines. The red line I have is that Russia cannot decide on the future of Europe,” she said.
Frederiksen said Russia has imperial ambitions and will not stop at Ukraine if it is victorious.
She said she agreed with Washington that Europe must boost its defense spending amid such threats.
Only 23 of 32 NATO members are expected to meet the spending target of 2 percent of gross domestic product this year, up from three a decade ago.
Denmark will reach 2.4 percent this year, up from 1.3 percent a few years ago, she said.
“The sense of urgency [among European nations] is growing but it's not strong enough,” she said.
Russia's Reach
Frederiksen said Russia is trying to destabilize the world, noting its hybrid activities in Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans.
“They are acting in an extremely aggressive manner every day and we have accepted this for too long,” she said.
However, she said that NATO is in a much stronger position today to deal with threats from Russia than prior to the war, highlighting the addition of Sweden and Finland and greater military spending by European states.
She said she hoped the United States would continue its prominent role in the alliance regardless of who wins the 2024 presidential election.