A 30-Day Truce in Sight?
Northern European nations, including the UK, back Ukraine's proposal for a 3-week truce: Norwegian Prime Minister's stance confirmed.
Oslo, Norway's capital, recently witnessed a discussion among key players aiming to put an end to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store spearheaded the consensus among northern European nations and the United Kingdom, supporting a U.S. proposition for a 30-day unconditional truce.
"First, we need an unconditional ceasefire," Store asserted to reporters during a gathering with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) coalition. "This needs to be enforced and respected before diving into the negotiations for a long-lasting peace."
Comprising ten countries, including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK, JEF was established to swiftly respond to emergencies. The prime minister revealed that during a dinner with leaders from these coalition members, contact was established with both U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, exploring the potential of a truce.
"We emphasize the necessity of accountability for this ceasefire, and if it's not honored, appropriate sanctions should be imposed," Store made clear.
Trump reinforced this call on his Truth Social network on Thursday, advocating for "a 30-day unconditional ceasefire" between both nations. He insisted that "accountability will be essential for these direct negotiations to ensure the conflict comes to a halt."
This concerted approach has gained traction among world leaders. "This is a united front that the U.S., Europeans, and Ukraine are sending," Store proclaimed.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) is among the leaders participating in the JEF summit in Oslo, LETA reported. Silina's visit will entail discussions with Norway and other JEF coalition nations on regional security and enhancing defense capabilities for deterrence.
Established in 2014, the JEF is a military cooperation initiative whose members share the same commitment to regional security. The coalition aims to collectively prepare for various crisis scenarios, providing a swift response when needed.
However, Russia's reluctance to accept the unconditional ceasefire terms has impeded progress towards a peaceful resolution, with the nation still insisting on certain conditions that align with their long-term objectives, such as exerting control over Ukraine and resuming offensive operations at their leisure[2]. Ukraine, along with its allies, remains optimistic, ready to commit to a 30-day truce starting May 13, following meetings with major European leaders[1]. The global community remains hopeful for a resolution that puts an end to this violent conflict.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needs an unconditional ceasefire to put an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
- Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store reiterated the importance of accountability for the ceasefire, suggesting that appropriate sanctions should be imposed if it's not honored.
- Established in 2014, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) aims to collectively prepare for various crisis scenarios, providing a swift response when needed, a goal shared by its ten member countries, including Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, and the United Kingdom.
- Although progress towards a peaceful resolution has been impeded due to Russia's reluctance to accept the unconditional ceasefire terms, Ukraine, with its allies, remains optimistic and ready to commit to a 30-day truce starting May 13.
