The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, characterized Denmark’s move to cut the number of Russian diplomats in Copenhagen as another instance of hostile behavior from Copenhagen. The official statement was published by the ministry’s foreign policy department and reflects Moscow’s view on the developments.
According to the Russian ministry, the Danish authorities asked to reduce the Russian Embassy staff in Copenhagen from 15 diplomats to 5, which Moscow interprets as a continued unfriendly stance by Denmark toward Russia. The ministry stated that it would draw the appropriate conclusions based on this action, signaling potential further diplomatic responses.
Earlier, the Danish government indicated that the size of the Russian Embassy in Denmark should mirror the scale of the Danish diplomatic mission in Moscow. The Danish Foreign Ministry informed Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin of this plan, adding that the Russian federation’s mission in Copenhagen should be limited to a maximum of five diplomats and twenty staff members.
On August 21, Barbin noted that Denmark’s decision to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine could aggravate the conflict. He warned that Copenhagen’s stance risks pushing Ukraine toward deeper difficulties and that Danish citizens might face renewed suffering as a consequence.
Previously, there was international coordination on the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, with the United States also involved in approving the move alongside allies such as the Netherlands and Denmark. The evolving dynamics of this military support have been a point of contention among Moscow and its Western counterparts, contributing to the broader debate about alliance commitments and regional security in Europe.