Nordic-Baltic leaders pledge to boost military support to Ukraine

This was announced in a joint statement by the Nordic-Baltic leaders and Ukraine, published on the website of Sweden’s government, Ukrinform reports.

“Putin does not want peace. We have clearly seen that in the past weeks. And we have seen it many times before. Ukraine is ready to negotiate. It is ready to enter into an unconditional and full ceasefire. Russia has so far not committed to a ceasefire or any steps leading to it. Russia continues to find excuses to delay, while escalating its brutal and indiscriminate use of violence, including with deliberate strikes against civilians in Ukraine. Russia poses a long-term threat, not only to Ukraine but to the security of Europe, the transatlantic community, and the wider international order. We will step up military support to Ukraine,” the statement reads.

The leaders emphasized the urgent need to accelerate the delivery of weapons, ammunition, and air defense systems to Ukraine.

“We reaffirm that only Ukraine can decide on its own future. A just and lasting peace requires robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. We are committed to advancing work on a framework of sustainable security guarantees, developed in close cooperation with the United States and our European and other partners. We further support Ukraine being firmly anchored in the Euro-Atlantic community. Russia has no veto over Ukraine’s pathway to the EU and NATO,” the statement adds.

The leaders stressed that allowing Russia to succeed in Ukraine now could embolden others to follow the same path of military aggression.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, on September 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Denmark for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and talks with Nordic-Baltic leaders.