The Nordic countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland) and the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) are in support for an increased role by NATO in providing assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia, and have established a high-level group to support Kyiv in the process of its accession to the European Union (EU), the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.
A two-day meeting of the foreign ministers from the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) ended on Wednesday in Visby, on the Swedish island of Gotland. Sweden is currently leading this regional cooperation
“We support an increased role for NATO in providing security related assistance to Ukraine and coordinating military support and equipment,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said after a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers and other officials.
He added that the eight Nordic and Baltic nations at their meeting on Sweden’s Gotland island had agreed to assemble a group of experts that will help support Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union.
“This offers an opportunity to facilitate Ukraine’s path towards membership in the European family,” Billström said.
Gotland is a key island in the Baltic Sea for security reasons due to its location southeast of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Swedish government has restored a military presence on the island. According to the Swedish Air Force, Swedish and German fighters were scrambled on Tuesday to scare away a Russian spy plane flying near Gotland.
“We support an increased role for NATO in providing security related assistance to Ukraine and coordinating military support and equipment,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said after a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers and other officials.
He added that the eight Nordic and Baltic nations at their meeting on Sweden’s Gotland island had agreed to assemble a group of experts that will help support Ukraine’s efforts to join the European Union.
“This offers an opportunity to facilitate Ukraine’s path towards membership in the European family,” Billström said.
The experts from Sweden were: former long-time EU commissioner Cecilia Malmström and former head of the EC representative office in Stockholm, Katarina Areskoug. Other advisors included: Alar Streimann (Estonia), Algirdas Šemeta and Laimonas Čiakas (Lithuania), as well as Andris Piebalgs (Latvia).Very welcome to Gotland, Visby and NB8, @elinavaltonen
— Tobias Billström (@TobiasBillstrom) April 9, 2024
⭐️🇸🇪🇩🇰🇪🇪🇫🇮🇮🇸🇱🇻🇱🇹🇳🇴 ⭐️ https://t.co/8ljuGENDFw
Gotland is a key island in the Baltic Sea for security reasons due to its location southeast of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Swedish government has restored a military presence on the island. According to the Swedish Air Force, Swedish and German fighters were scrambled on Tuesday to scare away a Russian spy plane flying near Gotland.
Source: Reuters, PAP
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