Nordic and Baltic countries said Sunday that negotiations on ending the Ukraine-Russia war can only take place during a ceasefire and “no decisions” should be taken without Kyiv’s involvement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet in the US state of Alaska this Friday to try to resolve the grinding conflict, despite warnings from Ukraine and Europe that Kyiv must have a seat at the negotiating table.
The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden issued a joint statement declaring their “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
While the Nordic and Baltic leaders said they welcomed Trump’s initiative “to help bring this war to an end,” they stressed that Ukraine and Europe should take part in the talks.
“The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. The path to peace cannot be charted without Ukraine’s voice,” they said in the statement.
“No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions on Europe without Europe,” they added.
They also added that “negotiations can only take place in context of a ceasefire”,
The countries said that while maintaining financial and military support for Ukraine they would also continue to uphold “restrictive measures” against Russia.