Today, the Ukraine–Northern European and Baltic countries summit took place in Kyiv. The outcome of the event was a joint declaration stating that the NB8 countries will continue to provide Ukraine with political, military, financial, humanitarian and economic support, as well as support in preparing for winter, and the protection, repair and restoration of critically important energy infrastructure. Among other things, attention was also paid to food security, or more precisely—to joint efforts to protect Ukraine’s port infrastructure, preserve open transport corridors and ensure that, reports UNN, citing the Office of the President.
Details
The Office of the President published the text of the Joint Declaration of the Leaders of Ukraine and the Northern European and Baltic countries (NB8):
"We, the heads of state and government of Ukraine and the Northern European and Baltic countries (NB8)—Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden—have gathered in Kyiv on the occasion of the Day of the State Flag of Ukraine and the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence.
We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people and our steadfast support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We will never recognize as lawful any purported annexation of Ukrainian territory by Russia.
We express our respect for the courage and determination of the Ukrainian people, who continue to defend their homeland, freedom, European security and the fundamental principles of the international order against Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale aggression. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, in close cooperation with our allies and partners, until a just and lasting peace is secured and Ukraine takes its place in the EU and NATO.
We strongly condemn Russia’s ongoing war of aggression and Russia’s deliberate attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population and civilian infrastructure. Russia and its leadership must bear full responsibility for all international crimes committed and for the immense destruction and suffering they have caused. We must further explore the possibilities of using frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.
We welcome Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to peace and its readiness for a full ceasefire and meaningful negotiations. Russia continues to reject genuine peace efforts, instead choosing further escalation and continuing its attacks on the civilian population. Ensuring justice and accountability is a prerequisite for lasting peace. All forcibly transferred or illegally deported Ukrainian children must be returned. Any settlement must be based on international law, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and must not reward aggression or legitimize any changes to borders by force. We recognize that a just and lasting peace requires strong, legally binding and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, which will enable it to effectively deter and prevent the renewal or recurrence of Russian aggression, as well as ensure long-term security and stability.
The NB8 countries will continue to provide Ukraine with political, military, financial, humanitarian and economic support, support in the field of development, and will also work through international coalitions and mechanisms together with allies and partners to help provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself and its people against Russian aggression.
We will continue to be reliable partners to Ukraine in advancing the necessary reforms, economic development, and the fight against corruption. A free, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine, fully integrated into the European and Euro-Atlantic community, serves our shared strategic interests. Therefore, we support rapid progress in Ukraine’s EU accession process, including the opening, without further delay, of the remaining negotiating clusters as early as September–October 2026, recognizing Ukraine’s continued progress in carrying out reforms despite Russia’s aggression.
Ukraine’s security is an integral part of European security. Today, Ukraine is a security provider in Europe and, in its own right, makes an important contribution to transatlantic and global security. The NB8 countries remain committed to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and its ability to deter and defend itself against future aggression. We highly value Ukraine’s innovations in the defense sector and will deepen cooperation in the defense industry and joint production, including cooperation between Ukrainian companies and the defense companies of the NB8 countries.
Building on the already established successful cooperation between Ukraine and the Nordic and Baltic countries, including within the framework of the Drone Deal mechanism, we will continue to expand joint defense production, investment in Ukraine’s defense industry, and direct cooperation between Ukrainian companies and the defense companies of the NB8 countries. We will support the development and scaling-up of joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles, air defense systems, electronic warfare systems, ammunition, and other critically important defense technologies, making full use of relevant national and European instruments, including the SAFE program.
We will continue to provide Ukraine with stable defense assistance in 2026 and beyond through bilateral agreements, multilateral mechanisms, and initiatives, including the PURL mechanism.
As Russia continues to strike Ukraine’s energy system, the NB8 countries will continue to support preparations for winter, as well as the protection, repair, and restoration of critical energy infrastructure. We call on international partners to join these efforts. We will continue working with Ukraine and other allies and partners to ensure the provision of the necessary air defense systems, including interceptors to protect against ballistic missiles. We must ensure conditions under which Russia cannot use the coming winter as yet another weapon against the Ukrainian people.
By attacking Ukrainian ports and civilian vessels, Russia is jeopardizing global food security. We will work together to protect Ukraine’s port infrastructure, preserve open transport corridors, and ensure that Ukrainian food products can reach global markets.
The current sanctions limit Russia’s ability to intensify its war effort, but further measures must be introduced. We call for the adoption and strict enforcement of additional sanctions, including effective and robust measures aimed at reducing Russia’s energy revenues in order to weaken its war machine, as well as measures against entities in third countries that facilitate Russia’s circumvention of sanctions in third countries. We will also continue our efforts to counter Russia’s shadow fleet, which poses risks to shipping and the marine environment.
We reaffirm our shared commitment to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, building on the strong ties between our societies and economies. The 2027 Ukraine Recovery Conference, to be held in Tallinn, will provide an important opportunity to mobilize further international political and financial support, strengthen investment and partnerships, and demonstrate that Ukraine’s future lies in recovery and European integration. We will work closely with Ukraine to turn this ambition into reality.