NB8 Summit Statement Firmly Supports Ukraine's Sovereignty, Backs Advancement of EU Accession Talks

(Central News Agency, Special Correspondent You Yaoru, Vilnius, 10th) The prime ministers of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) countries and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a summit in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, on the 9th. Following the meeting, they issued a joint statement reaffirming their unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, condemning Russia's acts of aggression, and supporting the acceleration of Ukraine's EU accession negotiations.

The Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) is a regional cooperation framework composed of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, used to promote coordination and cooperation in political, security, economic, and other fields.

The joint statement released by NB8 on the 9th pointed out that Russia remains the most significant and long-term security threat in the Euro-Atlantic region. It condemned Belarus for its continued support of Russia's military actions and called on the international community to maintain and strengthen sanctions against relevant individuals and entities.

Through the statement, the countries emphasized their solidarity with the people of Ukraine and supported Ukraine's right to self-defense. They also acknowledged President Zelenskyy's ongoing efforts to promote negotiations to end the war.

The statement urged Russia to immediately agree to a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire and to participate in meaningful peace negotiations, emphasizing that any peace plan must be based on international law and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Furthermore, the NB8 acknowledged Ukraine's progress in advancing reforms and pledged to continue providing necessary support to help it complete the EU accession process. The countries stated that Ukraine's future lies in Europe and considered Ukraine's EU membership an important guarantee for strengthening Europe's long-term security.

The NB8 countries also supported Ukraine's continued progress towards integration with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and looked forward to Ukraine's participation in the upcoming NATO summit in July to further strengthen its air defense capabilities, including acquiring more anti-ballistic missile systems and related equipment.

The joint statement emphasized that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will have a profound impact on Europe's long-term security. The NB8 called on all partners to respond to Ukraine's short-term and long-term needs and reaffirmed that "support for Ukraine is an investment in the future security and stability of Europe."

The NB8 committed to continuously strengthening military support based on Ukraine's needs, with a focus on air defense capabilities, drones and autonomous systems, maritime defense, and logistical support, while also enhancing training, information sharing, and integration of battlefield experience.

The statement also noted that defense industry cooperation is a strategic security priority for Ukraine, the NB8, and NATO, including joint production, technology transfer, and reducing administrative barriers to improve overall defense capabilities and innovation speed. (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150610