The Zelenskyy Folketing address made history on Wednesday, 11 November, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy became the first foreign head of state ever to address Denmark’s parliament from its rostrum, receiving standing ovations as he thanked Denmark for its support and urged Europe to build its own air defences.
Speaking in the chamber of the Folketing in Copenhagen, Zelenskyy told Danish lawmakers that Ukraine’s fight was a fight for all of Europe, and he used humour and history to press his case, drawing laughter when he told MPs that everyone dreams of having Denmark as a neighbour, while Ukraine has Russia.
FAKTA
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Folketing on 11 November 2026, the first foreign head of state ever to speak from the parliament’s rostrum.
- He received standing ovations as he entered and left the chamber.
- He asked Europe to support FREYJA, a new European anti-ballistic defence programme, saying 11 countries have joined it.
- Denmark announced a new military aid package of 643 million euros during the visit.
- His two-day visit also included meetings with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, King Frederik and Nordic leaders.
- 11 November is the anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War in 1918.
Zelenskyy Folketing Address: A Historic First
No foreign head of state had ever been given the opportunity to address the Danish parliament from its main podium before Zelenskyy’s speech. He was introduced to a full chamber and spoke at 11:35 on Wednesday morning, after attending a wreath-laying ceremony at Kastellet, the historic fortress in Copenhagen, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, King Frederik and Crown Prince Christian.
In his address, Zelenskyy thanked Denmark for its support since Russia’s full-scale invasion and praised the country’s sense of community, using Danish words including trust, community and social responsibility. Professor Lisa Villadsen of the University of Copenhagen said the speech was carefully tailored to its audience and made a strong case for why Denmark should continue backing Ukraine.
Nyhavn harbour in Copenhagen, where President Zelenskyy spent two days meeting Danish and Nordic leaders before his historic address to the Folketing.
The Call for European Air Defence
The centrepiece of the speech was a direct request for a European answer to Ukraine’s air defence shortage. Zelenskyy warned that Ukrainian Patriot missile systems were standing empty while Russian ballistic missiles struck Ukrainian cities, and he said American-made missiles were heading to the Middle East while Ukraine had too little to shoot down incoming attacks.
He presented FREYJA, an anti-ballistic missile defence programme being developed by Ukraine and its partners as an alternative to the American Patriot system. Eleven countries have joined the programme, he said, and preparations are complete for a programme office in Copenhagen with Norwegian participation. Ukraine hopes to use the European air defence system as soon as this winter, with Denmark playing a central role.
New Danish Military Aid
Denmark announced fresh military assistance during the visit. According to Danish broadcaster DR, Denmark will provide Ukraine with 643 million euros in military equipment, a package announced by the foreign minister after a meeting of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Zelenskyy’s visit began on Tuesday, 10 November, with meetings with Nordic heads of state and government and a joint appearance with Prime Minister Frederiksen before students at the University of Copenhagen. On Wednesday he also met parliamentary leaders and representatives from Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Not every lawmaker welcomed the invitation. Morten Messerschmidt, leader of the Danish People’s Party, voted against letting Zelenskyy speak in the chamber, telling broadcaster TV 2 that he worried about creating a new practice for foreign leaders.
Conclusion
Zelenskyy’s address was both a historic first and a practical appeal: gratitude for Denmark’s support, and a request that Europe build the defences Ukraine cannot wait for. The speech came as American envoys travelled to Moscow and as peace talks continued in Abu Dhabi, underlining Denmark’s central place in the diplomacy around the war.
