'Putin's speech threat to Europe's peace': Denmark’s defense chief

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Denmark's Defense Minister Morten Bodskov on Wednesday described Russia's announcement of partial military mobilization as a threat to the European peace and as "completely unacceptable."

Bodskov condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement, saying: "Putin's new seizures and threats are completely unacceptable."

The defense chief stressed that Putin should end "the abuses and invasion of Ukraine and end his nuclear weapons threats."

"There is a group that decides in Ukraine and it is the Ukrainian population," he added.

Bodskov said Russia's plans to mobilize part of its army mean that "Denmark must be closer with Ukraine."

In a speech on Wednesday, Putin announced that there would be a partial mobilization of the country's military.

According to Bodskov, this underlines the danger that the Russian president poses.

"What Putin said today is another emphasis that he (Putin) is a threat to peace and security in Europe," Bodskov said.

The partial mobilization of the Russian army is planned to begin immediately.

After Putin's speech, Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu announced that 300,000 reservists will be mobilized for the Ukraine war that started on Feb. 24.

Bodskov said Denmark supports Ukraine "in their struggle for freedom" and that it does this for "the very simple reason that we should not have a Europe where Putin can see those countries right across his borders," and think that these countries belong to him.

The minister also said: "We have left that with the fall of the Berlin Wall," adding: "We left a Europe where Europe was an area where military power was equal to justice. This is not the Europe we need to return to."

Denmark has continuously supported Ukraine militarily and with other forms of donations and also agreed to train Ukrainian soldiers on its soil.