'Ukraine belongs in EU'

DANISH Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, pictured inset, has vowed to back Ukraine in its quest to join the European Union, as Denmark officially launched its six-month presidency of the world's biggest trading bloc.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joined Ms Frederiksen and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in the western city of Aarhus, where Denmark is marking the start of its eighth EU presidency since joining in 1973.

It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration decided to halt some arms shipments promised to help Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion.

Russia's renewed push to capture more territory has put Ukraine's defences under severe strain, with the war now in its fourth year.