Joint Declaration of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Condemning in the strongest possible terms Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, which undermines the foundations of the international rules-based order,

Referring to Iceland’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders extending to its territorial waters, as well as fully supporting Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence and to choose its own security arrangements,

Acknowledging Ukraine’s significant contribution to the security of Euro-Atlantic area and beyond, in particular through standing up to Russia’s military aggression,

Noting that the Constitution of Ukraine defines acquiring full-fledged membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a strategic course of the state,

Sharing the common values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law,

Reaffirming the need for a strong and unequivocal international legal response to Russia‘s aggression against Ukraine, permitting no place for impunity for serious violations of international law, affirming the important role the Council of Europe can play in ensuring comprehensive accountability for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and emphasizing that accountability will be high on the agenda of the 4^th Summit of the Council of Europe Heads of State and Government in Iceland on 16-17 May 2023,

Commending the development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Iceland, and existing potential for further cooperation in all spheres of joint interest,

President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Iceland

• Reaffirm their support for the principles of international law, the inviolability of borders, and the right for each state to choose its own path and security arrangements;
• Reiterate their demand that the Russian Federation immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders;
• Remain fully committed to the policy of non-recognition of illegal annexation of Ukraine’s territories by Russia;
• Recognize the importance of cooperating at the UN General Assembly and other UN bodies, in view of the extensive work done at the level of the UN in addressing the Russian aggression against Ukraine;
• Deplore the dire human rights and humanitarian consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, including the continuous attacks against critical infrastructure across Ukraine with devastating consequences for civilians which constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law; 
• Express grave concern at the high number of civilian casualties, including women and children, the number of internally displaced persons and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance, and violations and abuses committed against children, and call for the immediate release of all abducted civilians, including children and all those forcibly transferred to the territory of the Russian Federation;
• Underline Ukraine’s sovereign decision on the peace process and a Global Peace Summit to be convened when conditions allow. Iceland supports Ukraine’s Peace Formula presented by President Zelenskyy at the G20 Bali Leaders’ Summit on 15 November 2022;
• Emphasize the importance of Ukraine’s consistent efforts of continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian program, aimed at enhancing the global food security;
• Note NATO´s commitment to an Open Door Policy, in accordance with the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept and the Madrid Summit Declaration;
• Declare the following:

• Iceland aligns itself completely with the European Union sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the military aggression against Ukraine;
• Ukraine highly appreciates all assistance provided by Iceland to Ukraine. Iceland will continue to provide effective political, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine and its defences. Iceland will assist with the reconstruction and fast recovery of Ukraine, particularly in the energy sphere. Iceland will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes;
• Iceland will support Ukraine´s sovereign right to choose its own security arrangements and notes Ukraine’s decision to become part of the North Atlantic Alliance as soon as conditions allow;
• Ukraine and Iceland will continue to work together, and with others within multilateral organizations, to ensure accountability, including through the establishment of special tribunal on the crime of aggression and a register of damages to record and document evidence and claims for damage, loss or injury as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as a first step in setting up a comprehensive reparations mechanism;
• Ukraine and Iceland commit to coordinate closely on these matters by intensifying bilateral consultations.

Signed in duplicate in Kyiv on 14 March 2023 in English.