Check against delivery! 

It is great to be here. Thank you for hosting us. 

Denmark has this very important diplomatic super year. You are chairing many important formats this year, so your hands are full. I also commend Denmark for supporting Ukraine as much as you do. Being the leader here, also spending more on defence, increasing your defence spending to 3%.

It is a good leadership to show to everybody else. These are the really important decisions that we all have to make because [of] the security situation where we are. 

Denmark is becoming or taking up the presidency of the European Union in July, so we also discussed topics where we can cooperate there. Security and defence is important, as well as supporting Ukraine considering the situation. 

We are very likeminded, and I really enjoy working with you in the European [Union] Foreign Affairs Council.

Q&A

Q. Mr. Netanyahu has announced that he's planning on a full-on military operation inside the Gaza Strip. What is your response to that?

This loss of life in Gaza is untenable and the situation is untenable. We have called for humanitarian aid to reach the people there. We have also made efforts from our side with our EUBAM Rafah mission to help the humanitarian aid to reach the people. So, it is totally unacceptable - reallocation of people from Gaza or not letting them receive the humanitarian aid. So the situation is untenable.

In the meeting that we had in Poland, we also agreed with the majority of European countries the same messages that we have sent to Israel.

Q. A question about ReArm Europe. You said today at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit there's a different degree of willingness across Europe to Rearm and to invest in defence. How will you make sure that the countries that haven't reached the 2% mark of NATO's mark yet will get there and beyond? 

Yes, this is a big issue. 

We have 27 countries in Europe and some are further away from the war that is happening in Ukraine and then they have the illusion that it does not – maybe their public has the feeling that it does not – concern them as much. The problem with defence is that you need to invest in defence while you are in peacetime. And that is why we are convincing the other Members States also to do more. And I think, here, Denmark is an example because you are not also the frontline state, but clearly Denmark understands what is at stake. It is being prepared – and it is necessary so that we would be able to deter Russia from further steps. 

There are good news. Last week, we heard good news from Spain, so they have increased their defence spending. We are going to hear some good news from some Member States even more in the coming weeks and months. So that is good. But, of course, we need to do more. I think that is also very clear and we have to be in this together. I think the mindset has to change that the defence is not national, but actually regional. We are in this together. If something happens in some parts of Europe, it also has an effect on everybody else and that is why we all need to do more.  

Q. The US stepping up on spying on Denmark and Greenland. What do you think of that? 

Friends and allies don't spy on friends and allies, and that is that is our position.

Q. Can we just ask you a quick question about Zelenskyy meeting Putin in Türkiye. Do you see that happening? Do you believe in it? And what do you think will be outcome of it? 

We have seen that already two months ago, Zelenskyy and Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire. We have seen that Russia is just playing games for these two months. I think it is a good statement by President Zelenskyy that he is willing to meet President Putin – really one-on-one to sit down. But let's see if it is going to happen. I have my doubts there.
I think, first, there has to be ceasefire so that there are no talks going on under fire, and we have not seen good signs or some goodwill from Russia's side to have actually peace.

Q. You said that friends do not spy on allies, but America is [inaudible] and it is spying on Denmark and Greenland according to a newspaper. What do you think? Can you please elaborate on that? 

These are the agreements that we have had between friends and allies that we do not spy on friends and allies. And, of course, I also saw these articles and they are very unfortunate. What more can I say?

Watch the video (as of 2:07)