COPENHAGEN (Chatnewstv.com) — Leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed Tuesday to accelerate military aid to Kyiv and step up sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow poses a long-term threat not only to Ukraine but to global security.
“We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s continued illegal war of aggression,” the leaders said in a joint statement issued in Copenhagen. “We are proud to stand together with President Zelenskyy today.”
The leaders accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of blocking peace efforts. “Putin does not want peace. 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,” the statement said.
The group pledged to speed up weapons deliveries, including air defense systems, and backed a new initiative to finance high-priority U.S. weapons for Ukraine. “No limitations should be placed on Ukraine’s armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries,” the leaders said.
They also stressed that Ukraine’s future rests firmly with the West. “A just and lasting peace requires robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. Russia has no veto over Ukraine’s pathway to the EU and NATO,” the statement said.
The joint declaration warned about Moscow’s growing ties with North Korea, Iran and China, saying those relationships have consequences far beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.
“This moment demands a stronger collective response,” the leaders said, calling for tougher sanctions targeting Russia’s war economy and networks that help it circumvent restrictions. “Sanctions must strike deeper into Russia’s war economy, target the networks that sustain it, and make clear that aggression comes at an ever-higher cost.”
The Nordic-Baltic Eight includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. Denmark currently holds the group’s presidency.
