Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers adopt a joint statement, condemning in the strongest terms Russia's military aggression against Ukraine
On 1 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis initiated the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Foreign Ministers’ remote meeting, which focused on the security situation in the region in light of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.
“Today, Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine poses a threat also to the Baltic states, our entire region, and Europe. Our fate and the future of a democratic Europe is now also decided in Ukraine. I am glad that the Nordic and Baltic countries speak with one voice to strongly condemn Russia’s actions and further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. We call for the immediate cessation of violence and withdrawal of Russian military forces from the sovereign territory of Ukraine," Landsbergis said.
The Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers adopted a joint statement, condemning in the strongest terms the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. According to the NB8 Foreign Ministers, Russia bears full responsibility for its military aggression, the destruction and the tragic loss of innocent lives that is taking place in the country today. In addition, the Foreign Ministers call on Russia to adhere to international humanitarian law. They will also seek to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are held accountable. The countries also condemn the involvement of Belarus in the aggression against Ukraine and call on it to refrain from such action, and to abide by international law.
Landsbergis urged partners to continue considering additional sanctions, to increase humanitarian assistance to the affected population of Ukraine, as well as to provide full support for Ukrainian defenders and for fleeing civilians, who were seeking peaceful refuge.
The Nordic-Baltic eight (NB8) is an informal (non-institutionalized) regional cooperation format that includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Each year, one of the NB8 countries assumes the coordinator's role. The coordinating country manages meeting schedules and hosts many meetings of different parties and levels in the NB8 format.
Lithuania coordinates the NB8 cooperation in 2022.