Leaders from six European nations arrived in Kyiv on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 23, to participate in commemorations for Ukraine’s Flag Day and Independence Day, as well as a series of high-level diplomatic meetings.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andri Sybiha announced that he greeted the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway at the Kyiv railway station.
“On the eve of Independence Day, we feel that we are not alone. Our allies are by our side,” Sybiha wrote on X. “They will hold bilateral and multilateral talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Important decisions will be made and important statements will be issued.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal also confirmed his arrival on X, noting the shared history of Estonia and Ukraine restoring their independence 35 years ago.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin hopes that time is on his side. Our task is to prove him wrong,” Michal wrote. “Ukraine must have everything necessary to defend itself and decide its future independently.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb arrived for a two-day visit accompanied by his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, according to the Finnish broadcaster YLE. The Finnish delegation also includes the Commander of the Defense Forces, Janne Jaakkola, and a group of entrepreneurs.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is also among the visiting delegation. According to the Baltic news outlet BB.lv, Kulbergs emphasized Latvia’s determination to help Ukraine prepare for the upcoming winter.
Before arriving in the capital, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre condemned the recent wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine.
“Russia has no remorse when it comes to distinguishing between civilian and military targets,” Støre stated. “It is precisely civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, schools, and hospitals that have suffered, which is a systematic violation of international law.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also commented on the recent Russian attacks, emphasizing the necessity of continued support for Ukraine.
Diplomatic summits and allied support
The visiting leaders are scheduled to participate in a series of events over the next two days, including the national holiday commemorations and bilateral meetings with President Zelensky.
The officials will also take part in a summit of the NB8 (Nordic-Baltic Eight) format, which brings together the five Nordic and three Baltic states.
Additionally, the leaders are expected to attend a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a group coordinating international support for Ukraine, which is scheduled to convene in Kyiv on Monday, Aug. 24.
The arrival of the Nordic and Baltic leaders follows the earlier arrival of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, who announced on Sunday morning that he would also be participating in the NB8 discussions and the Coalition of the Willing meeting.