Helsinki: Defense ministers from the Nordic and Baltic countries, along with Iceland's foreign minister, have announced a significant joint contribution of $500 million to support Ukraine's military needs. This decision was made public after a collaborative meeting held in Helsinki.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden, in conjunction with Iceland's foreign minister, issued a joint statement underscoring the importance of Ukraine's security as a cornerstone of European security. They declared their unity in advocating for a sustainable and just peace, respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and the legitimate aspirations of its people.
The coalition of nations has committed to providing long-term, predictable, and coordinated military support to Ukraine. This support will include capability development, defense-industrial cooperation, and efforts to bolster Ukraine's ability to deter any future aggression from Russia.
In alignment with their commitment, the group announced a $500 million contribution to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. This initiative is a mechanism designed to facilitate the purchase of critical US-made defense equipment for Ukraine. The ministers emphasized that this financial package will play a crucial role in enhancing Ukraine's resilience and defense against Russian aggression. They cited the initiative as one of the various ways in which the Nordic and Baltic nations continue to support Kyiv.
The ministers also strongly condemned Russia's full-scale invasion, stating that Moscow's actions pose a long-term threat to European security, the transatlantic community, and the rules-based international order. The statement concluded with a resolute declaration: "We will not allow it to succeed. Ukraine's security is directly connected to ours."