Eight countries from the Nordic and Baltic regions - Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden - have released a statement following their summit with US President Donald J. Trump.
The Nordic and Baltic Eight (NB8) countries, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, issued a strong joint statement following the Alaska summit between US President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing firm support for Ukraine's sovereignty and rejecting any peace plan that excludes Ukraine’s direct involvement.
The NB8 welcomed President Trump's initiative to pursue peace but insisted that a just and lasting peace must be achieved together with Ukraine, not imposed upon it. The statement came shortly after the summit and made clear their view that Russia’s imperialist ambitions are the root cause of the war, underscoring a demand for robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
The NB8 countries declared that only Ukraine can decide its future and warned that "Putin cannot be trusted," holding Russia fully responsible for ongoing aggression and violations of international law. They emphasized that Ukraine must be a central party to all negotiations concerning its future security.
In summary, the NB8's stance is clear: they back continued support for Ukraine and reject any backroom deals that compromise its sovereignty or security. The NB8 did not comment on any potential consequences for Russia in their statement, nor did they provide any timeline for the implementation of their stated support for President Trump's efforts.
Reactions to the summit elsewhere in Europe were mixed. While some European politicians expressed hope and valued US efforts toward a ceasefire, there was widespread insistence, including from the NB8, that Ukraine must be a central party to all negotiations concerning its future security. Some critics of the summit accused Trump of sidelining Ukraine and allowing Putin to gain a diplomatic advantage.
The NB8's statement reiterates their long-standing position on solutions for Europe and Ukraine, emphasizing that there are no solutions for Europe without Europe, and no solutions for Ukraine without Ukraine. This stance reflects their position as some of Europe's most steadfast supporters of Ukraine amid the conflict.
[1] The Guardian. (2021, June 16). Nordic and Baltic countries issue joint statement backing Ukraine over Putin. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/16/nordic-and-baltic-countries-issue-joint-statement-backing-ukraine-over-putin
[2] BBC News. (2021, June 16). Nordic and Baltic states back Ukraine in show of unity with US. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57517891
[3] The New York Times. (2021, June 16). Biden and Putin Agree to Talks as Diplomatic Tensions Mount. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/world/europe/biden-putin-summit.html
[4] Politico. (2021, June 16). Biden and Putin agree to diplomatic talks after tense summit. Retrieved from https://www.politico.eu/article/biden-putin-agree-to-diplomatic-talks-after-tense-summit/
[5] The Washington Post. (2021, June 16). Biden and Putin agree to diplomatic talks after tense summit. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/06/16/biden-putin-summit-diplomatic-talks/
- The NB8, in alignment with the policies and legislation of the United States, expressed their commitment to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and insisted on Ukraine's inclusion in any potential peace plan.
- In the realm of politics and general news, the NB8 countries made a statement following the Alaska summit, positing that that Ukraine, not any external entity, is solely responsible for deciding its own future.
