Danish prime minister says allies must do more for Ukraine

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has criticized fellow supporters of Ukraine for being too slow and hesitant to supply the embattled country with the weapons it needs.

The international community made costly mistakes in responding to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Frederiksen said, and too little is still being done to immediately deliver the weapons that Ukraine needs.

Speaking on the margins of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Frederiksen urged other European countries to send weapons and ammunition from existing stocks to Ukraine while also investing more in building up Europe's industrial capacity to produce weapons.

She said Denmark will soon deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and is still seeking more partners to supply the advanced fighter plans. Ukraine also urgently needs more artillery, shells, long-range missiles, drones and other gear.

Frederiksen acknowledged that NATO countries have done a lot to aid Ukraine in its war, but added: "I think it's quite clear to all of us that it's not enough. We have to speed up and scale up," she said.

"I think the only thing [Russian President Vladimir] Putin really respects in military force and our willingness to protect us," she said, saying Europeans need to take more responsibility for their own defence and rely less on the United States.