What Do Baltic & Nordic Leaders Say About Their Support for Ukraine?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Only Ukraine can determine its own future.
- Unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Commitment to military aid and diplomatic efforts.
- Stricter sanctions on Russia as long as aggression continues.
- Collaboration with transatlantic partners is essential for peace.
Riga, Aug 17 (NationPress) The leaders of the Baltic and Nordic nations released a united statement, emphasizing that only Ukraine holds the authority to shape its own destiny and reiterating their unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
"No decisions regarding Ukraine should be made without Ukraine, and no decisions about Europe should be made without Europe," declared the eight leaders from Latvia, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, and Sweden in their joint statement.
They reaffirmed their enduring support for Ukraine and their dedication to initiatives aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
"Securing a just and lasting peace necessitates a ceasefire and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine. A peace agreement hinges on solid and specific commitments from transatlantic partners to protect Ukraine against any potential future aggression," stated the announcement.
Expressing appreciation for the US's willingness to engage in security guarantees, the leaders insisted that there should be no constraints on Ukraine's military capabilities or its cooperation with other nations.
They also emphasized their nations' ongoing military assistance to Ukraine and efforts to bolster Europe's defenses to deter Russia, underscoring that they will "intensify sanctions and broader economic measures to weaken Russia's war economy" as long as Moscow persists in its attacks.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Alaska, marking the first encounter between a US President and Putin since the full-scale war commenced in February 2022.
The concept of a territory swap was proposed by Trump, potentially allowing Moscow to solidify its territorial gains.
On Saturday, Estonia's leading politicians and diplomats voiced strong opposition to this proposal while refraining from overtly criticizing Washington.
On Sunday, Estonia's Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform) shared the joint statement from Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
"The staunch advocates for Ukraine reaffirm support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he stated.
"We remain dedicated to military assistance, diplomacy, and exerting pressure on Russia. No borders should be altered by force. No decisions on Ukraine should be made without Ukraine. No decisions on Europe should be made without Europe."
"We will continue to collaborate closely with the United States, Ukraine, and other partners to pursue a peace that is just, enduring, and grounded in the principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and international law," the joint statement from the eight Baltic nations declared.
According to a statement released by the Kremlin on Saturday, President Putin indicated that his discussions with President Trump on Friday in Alaska encompassed nearly all facets of Russia-US cooperation, as well as a potential resolution of the Ukrainian crisis on equitable grounds, adding that Russia aspires to resolve all issues through peaceful means.