Let's Hear it for a Unilateral Arms Halt in Ukraine - Britain, Nordic Countries, and Others Chime In
Northern European nations, alongside Britain, advocate for an immediate, unconditional halt to hostilities in Ukraine.
At a summit in chilly Oslo, Norway, our mates across the North Sea and several Scandinavian nations have raised a loud cry for an absolute cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. primo minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, fired up the crowd on Friday, posing, "We need an unconditional ceasefire (...), to kickstart long-lasting peace," referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. If the other side doesn't toe the line, sanctions are on the table.
Late Thursday evening, the heads of state of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) huddled with none other than trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The JEF, a joint military endeavor founded in 2014, comprises of ten countries with heavy hitters like Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the UK, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
During a joint press conference with Støre, Finland's president Alexander Stubb added his two cents, stating the JEF is looking to team up with the US to throw down some sanctions if needed. At present, the industry in focus for possible sanctions is Russia's banking and energy sectors, as suggested by Zelensky. Russia's in a tight military and financial corner, pointed out Stubb, and it's only a matter of time before the heat gets to 'em. "They'll fold under the pressure, so let's heap it on!"
Yesterday, trump took to his truth-telling platform, Truth Social and barked out a call for a 30-day unilateral armistice following a chat with Zelensky. France's president Emmanuel Macron gave trump a thumbs up on Friday, saying, "We've all gotta work towards this goal without wasting time, bogus reasons, or excuses."
Data from ntv.de and AFP.
Contextual Insights:
The State of Play:
- There's much effort on the table, from various sources, to corral a unilateral truce in Ukraine, but the specifics are sketchy when it comes to Norway, Nordic nations, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), EU coordination, and the general agreement landscape. This is a quick rundown of the current situation:
Proposals and Collaboration Endeavors:
United States
- trump's Pitch: good old Donald trump has been urging for a 30-day unilateral ceasefire, with any infractions punishable by sanctions. Ukraine's down for it, but Russia's been radio silent[2][3].
- trump's Proposal Details: The ceasefire would apply to land, air, and sea, with both sides needing to back off 15 kilometers to establish a 30-kilometer demilitarized zone[3].
United Kingdom
- Coalition of the Willing: The UK, along with France, heads up the Coalition of the Willing, primed to toss a ceasefire force into action to back up a comprehensive ceasefire west of the Dnipro River[3].
European Union (EU) and European Perspective
- The nitty-gritty EU initiatives aren't clear, but the EU's generally for helping Ukraine to stabilize and may align with broader international ceasefire agreements or peace talks.
Norway and Scandinavian Countries
- We're short on details about Norway and other Nordic countries' involvement in ceasefire proposals. Typically, they support international diplomacy efforts through organizations like the EU or independently.
Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)
- There's no specific mention of the JEF's role in ceasefire proposals. As a UK-led multi-national force, they could potentially be in the mix to support operations if a ceasefire kicks off.
Hurdles and Obstacles
- Russian Recalcitrance: Russia continues to dig their heels in and resist any ceasefire deal, hampering attempts at peace. Ukraine's willing to renew the ceasefire but reports highlight Russia's demands for concessions[2][3].
Overall, while there's plenty of enthusiasm for an armistice, particularly under trump's leadership, Russian foot-dragging remains the biggest roadblock to any real forward motion.
- The summit in Oslo saw Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre calling for an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, aiming to kickstart lasting peace.
- The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), comprising of ten countries including Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, are considering sanctions against Russia's banking and energy sectors in collaboration with the US.
- Finnish President Alexander Stubb announced during a joint press conference with Støre that the JEF is willing to work together with the US on imposing sanctions if needed.
- In a recent statement on his Truth-telling platform, Trump proposed a 30-day unilateral armistice after discussing the matter with Zelensky. France's president Emmanuel Macron endorsed this proposal, emphasizing the need for joint efforts towards achieving this goal without unnecessary delays or excuses.
