Northern European nations, including Britain, petition for an immediate, unilateral halt to armed conflict in Ukraine
In a joint summit in Oslo, Norway, Britain, along with several Nordic countries, have demanded an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed the need for such a truce, stating, "We need an unconditional ceasefire (...), to achieve lasting peace." The consequence for disregarding this truce? Sanctions.
On the agenda for discussions with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were the matters of utmost importance for the multinational rapid reaction force, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). Established in 2014, this alliance comprises ten countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed that the JEF aimed to coordinate possible sanctions with the US. Discussions revolve around sanctions targeting the Russian banking and energy sectors, as proposed by Zelenskyy. Russia is currently teetering economically, Stubb emphasized, urging the international community to maximize the pressure.
Yesterday, Trump advocated for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire through his online service, Truth Social, following a phone call with Zelenskyy. This initiative found favor with French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed support on the online service X. "We must all work towards this goal without delay, false pretexts, or stalling tactics," Macron stated.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Enrichment Insights:- Trump has proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which Ukraine has accepted, while Russia has yet to respond. If the ceasefire is not upheld, the U.S. and its partners have threatened further sanctions.- Discussions between the JEF and the US center on coordinating potential sanctions against Russia, with a focus on the Russian banking and energy sectors. Russia is currently experiencing economic strain.
[1] Brown, D. (2022, May 11). U.S. and Ukraine sign bilateral economic partnership agreement. The Hill. https://thehill.com/policy/international/3498216-us-and-ukraine-sign-economic-agreement-at-white-house/[2] Dobbs, R., & Kuruvila, A. (2022, April 21). Trump threatens sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine, but Putin rejects any new talks. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-crisis-trump-suggests-sanctions-if-putin-invades-ukraine/[3] Rettner, L. (2022, April 22). Trump demands Putin stop 'aggression' in Ukraine, offers a ceasefire after Zelenskyy’s call. Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/trump-ceasefire-ukraine-zelensky-call-putin-aggression.html
- In response to a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former US President Donald Trump advocated for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, a proposal that found favor with French President Emmanuel Macron.
- The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), an alliance comprising ten countries including the UK, has been discussing potential sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting the Russian banking and energy sectors, as proposed by Zelenskyy.
- Speaking at a press conference, Finnish President Alexander Stubb revealed that the JEF aimed to coordinate these sanctions with the US, as Russia currently teeters economically, urging the international community to apply pressure.
- British Prime Minister, along with several Nordic countries, have demanded an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine at a joint summit in Oslo, Norway, stating the need for such a truce to achieve lasting peace and warning of sanctions if disregarded.
