News

On 23-24 March in Copenhagen, political directors of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) discussed regional issues, challenges to Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity, preparations for the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, prospects for relations with Russia, ways to increase resilience to propaganda of the societies, as well as threats of terrorism and the spread of radical Islamic ideology.

Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksiy Makeyev as the guest speaker at the meeting on 23 March, informed the participants of the situation in his country and the newest diplomatic and political efforts to defend the right to sovereignty, territorial integrity and the ways of development of the country and received clear support to Ukraine’s aspirations and goals by the political directors.

“The support of the Baltic States by the Nordic countries was very important for establishing relations with the European Union and for creation of our states; therefore, we perfectly understand that it is now important for Ukraine to have real friends and supporters on its road to Europe,” said Kačinskas, Political Director of the Lithuanian MFA. It is important to avoid the impression that in the light of Russian pressure the EU is weakening its commitment to Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries, he added.

“We hope that the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga will be a further step forward from the Warsaw and Vilnius Summits with regard to both concrete results and the declaration of the Summit,” stressed Kačinskas.

The meeting was organised by Denmark, which coordinates the NB8 cooperation in 2015. The priorities of Danish presidency are equally important to Lithuania and they include energy security, fight against propaganda, solution of the crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Partnership.