The governments of the Nordic and Baltic countries on Tuesday backed Ukraine's "swift accession" to the European Union during a regional summit held in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where they insisted that Kyiv's future lies in its integration into both the EU and NATO.
"Ukraine is already a strategic security partner for NATO. We will continue to work to further strengthen Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic community, reaffirming that Ukraine's future lies in the EU and NATO. We support Ukraine's swift accession to the EU, including the opening of all negotiation chapters," they stated in a joint communiqué.
The participating states—Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden—have underlined that "Russia remains the most significant and direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security" and have also pointed to Belarus for "facilitating Russian aggression against Ukraine."
In this context, the governments have committed to "contribute to strengthening NATO" through "increased defense investment, improving capabilities, and strengthening the defense industry, including through initiatives within the EU." "The Nordic-Baltic countries are committed to achieving NATO's goal of annual defense investment of 5% of GDP well before 2035," they stressed.
At the same time, they denounced that "Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its increasing use of hybrid, cyber, sabotage, and disinformation activities seek to undermine our security and stability. Russia's war is the cause of drone incursions into NATO allies' airspace. Russia's attempts to weaken support for Ukraine and destabilize our societies will not succeed," they added.
In parallel, the countries have reiterated that they will intensify their cooperation against "malicious activities," strengthen their "critical infrastructure, and continue to pressure Moscow "through sanctions, additional measures against the energy and financial sectors," as well as against the so-called Russian shadow fleet.
PRESSURE ON RUSSIA FOR A CEASEFIRE
The Nordic and Baltic partners have also reiterated their "unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, and its right to self-defense against Russia's illegal war of aggression" initiated in February 2022.
"Our objective is to achieve comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, based on International Law and the Charter of the United Nations. We will work to ensure Ukraine is in the best possible position to achieve this and to increase pressure on Russia to accept a complete, unconditional, and immediate ceasefire and engage in meaningful negotiations," they indicated.
In the same declaration, the signatory countries have highlighted that they will continue to strengthen "political, security, defense, and economic cooperation." "As the largest contributors of military assistance to Ukraine, we maintain our commitment to provide sustained support and encourage others to do the same," they asserted, while reaffirming their involvement in the country's "long-term reconstruction."
During the regional summit, the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kristen Míchal, and the Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenski, signed a joint declaration on Tuesday to deepen their coordination in security and defense matters.
"The document provides for security assistance, exchange of experiences, cooperation in the defense industry and air defense, including a joint commitment to develop multi-layered missile defense capabilities in Europe," the Ukrainian Presidency indicated in a statement.
In addition, both countries have committed to working "on a framework agreement on drones." "The draft is already being examined by the Estonian side," it was pointed out.