Today at 19:21
The countries of Northern Europe and the Baltics voiced their joint position in light of the first interactions of U.S. President Donald Trump with the Kremlin and statements by high-ranking U.S. officials regarding potential conditions for “ending the war.”
The corresponding statement was published by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson.
The Nordic countries assured their unequivocal support for Ukraine.
“Ukraine must be able to withstand the Russian invasion to ensure a fair and lasting peace. The outcome of the war will have fundamental and long-term consequences for European and transatlantic security,” they emphasize.
The countries noted that they are already among the largest donors of military assistance to Ukraine relative to their population size and plan to further increase this support.
“We are working with Ukraine, the USA, and all NATO allies and EU partners on how to secure peace through strength. We fully support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine must receive strong security guarantees. Ukraine and Europe must be involved in any negotiations to ensure a fair and lasting peace,” the leaders emphasized.
They added that they have begun significant investments in their own defense capabilities.
“We are committed to further strengthening our collective security and defense and taking responsibility for peace and security in Europe,” they stated.
It is worth recalling that on February 12, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, stated that Ukraine regaining control over all its territory is an unrealistic idea and that the U.S. is not ready to invite Ukraine into NATO. This statement caused shock in Europe. Later, the U.S. Defense Secretary clarified that his remarks should not be taken as red lines but rather as the reality of the situation.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he sees no possibility for Ukraine to join NATO due to Russia’s position and placed the responsibility for “provoking” Moscow into a full-scale war on his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Read also: Shmyhal: Ukraine’s membership in EU will strengthen its eastern flank
