Ukraine and North European countries establish new defense cooperation format

Twelve European countries have come together under the Northern Group-Ukraine format to enhance defense cooperation. The first meeting of the coalition took place in Denmark on Nov. 20, as reported by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, according to Interfax news agency.

The coalition includes representatives from the Baltic States, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Britain, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands.

“I am grateful to my friend, the Danish defense minister, for his leadership and hospitality,” Umerov wrote.

At the first meeting, discussions focused on plans for 2025, Ukraine’s urgent needs, and how to address them as quickly as possible, Umerov said.

“We focused on shared threats and the equipping of combat brigades with heavy machinery,” Umerov added.

A key priority was increasing investment in Ukraine’s defense industry. 

“More and more countries are joining efforts to fund Ukrainian production, particularly through the Danish model,” Umerov said of joint weapons production and leveraging Danish expertise to modernize Ukraine’s defense infrastructure. 

Sweden, Norway, and Lithuania “are among those leading the way,” he said. 

The next Northern Group-Ukraine meeting will be held in Ukraine.

“I sincerely thanked our allies for their support. These countries are true leaders in backing Ukraine,” Umerov concluded.

Meanwhile, UWC President Paul Grod is currently on an official visit to northern Europe. He addressed the Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee on Nov. 20 and met with Norwegian members of parliament.

Grod will continue his trek to Sweden, and Finland, aiming to strengthen support for Ukraine, address pressing issues related to Ukrainian refugees, and highlight key humanitarian and historical matters. The visit concludes on Nov. 25.