Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Folketing chamber in Copenhagen on Wednesday, the first time a foreign leader has been invited to speak from the Danish parliament’s main chamber.
Zelenskyy entered the chamber to standing applause late Wednesday morning, as reported by Kristeligt Dagblad via the Ritzau wire service. He said it was a great honor to represent Ukraine, its people and its struggle in the parliament.
Per the same report, Zelenskyy noted that it was the first time a foreign country’s leader had been invited to stand there. He described being welcomed as a friend who can always be relied on as an honor for all Ukrainians.
A disputed choice of chamber
According to The Copenhagen Post, the Folketing Presidium’s decision to use the main chamber was not unanimous. Danish People’s Party leader Morten Messerschmidt told DR that the Landsting Chamber should have been used instead, as in 2023.
Speaker Henrik Frandsen said the address would be held separately from a formal sitting, with an ordinary sitting scheduled for 1 p.m. TV2 reported from the chamber that MP Jacob Harris remained seated and did not applaud when Zelenskyy arrived.
The Copenhagen Post reports that Wednesday’s program also included a meeting with King Frederik and an event at Kastellet with defense and industry representatives. The Local adds that it is Zelenskyy’s fifth visit to Denmark since 2022, and that he and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen discussed opening a Copenhagen office for the Freyja European anti-missile system.
Military aid and Nordic talks
The speech came during two days of talks in Copenhagen with Frederiksen and other Nordic leaders on security and the war, announced on Tuesday. Euronews reports that Denmark unveiled a military aid package worth 4.8 billion kroner, or 643 million euros, on Tuesday.
Euronews links the Nordic security talks to the start of US-mediated Ukraine and Russia negotiations in Abu Dhabi. The Statsministeriet press release on the visit program, cited by Kristeligt Dagblad, described a conversation on the current security situation. Denmark has been among Kyiv’s most consistent backers, including through earlier aid packages and discussions of Denmark’s role in potential Ukraine peacekeeping efforts.
What the visit means for residents and Ukrainians in Denmark
The most immediate effect for people in the capital is security. Euronews reports that Copenhagen police tightened security around the visit and banned drones over the capital until 12 November. Drone rules in Denmark are set under national aviation regulation, and temporary restrictions are issued by the police and the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority, so hobby flights inside the zone are not permitted while a ban is in force.
For Ukrainians living here, the visit is tied to Denmark’s political support, not to residence rules, which are administered separately. Ukrainians in Denmark under the special law known as særloven hold temporary residence granted by SIRI, and any change to that framework requires action by the Folketing, not a state visit. Nothing in Wednesday’s reporting indicates changes to permits, CPR registration or work access, and readers needing details on status and renewals should consult nyidanmark.dk or guidance on immigration and labour law in Denmark.
