The leaders of eight Nordic and Baltic countries say the war that Russia started against Ukraine can only end if strong pressure is kept on Russian President Vladimir Putin. They sent this message to U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday.
The group, called the Nordic-Baltic Eight, includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. They support Ukraine and welcomed Trump’s efforts to end the war. They also said they will keep applying sanctions (punishments) on Russia while continuing to help Ukraine.
The leaders said, “Peace will only come through determined talks, strong support for Ukraine, and constant pressure on Russia.”
Why This Is Important
The Nordic-Baltic countries want to warn Trump that Putin only listens when there is pressure. They say the U.S. should not agree to anything that gives Russia an advantage during the talks.
More Details
The group released this statement on Sunday, before the summit between Trump and Putin.
They praised Trump’s goal to stop the war and create a fair and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe. They also said it is important that countries’ borders should not be changed by force.
Other leaders have also shared their thoughts. NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte said Ukraine must be involved in any peace talks, but first, it is important to see if Putin is serious.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly rejected the idea of giving up Ukrainian land to end the war. He warned that Putin might try to trick the U.S. during the negotiations.
Some experts say Russia might use the meeting to create divisions between the U.S. and Europe instead of making real progress toward peace.
One expert, Anatole Lieven, said he supports trading some Ukrainian land controlled by Ukraine for land Russia controls, like Trump suggested. But Zelensky has already said no to this plan because it would hurt Ukraine.
Another expert, retired Australian Major General Mick Ryan, said holding the summit was a mistake for the U.S. because Russia is not in a strong position and Putin is actually winning by getting this meeting.
What People Are Saying
- The Nordic-Baltic Eight: “We welcome President Trump’s effort to help end this war… peace will only come with strong talks, support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia.”
- President Zelensky: “We know Russia might try to trick America, but we won’t let that happen.”
- Anatole Lieven: “It makes sense to leave some land issues for later talks. Ukraine shouldn’t have to give up land it still controls, and Russia probably won’t give up its claims either.”
- Mick Ryan: “It’s wrong for the American president to try to bargain away Ukrainian land. It shows a lack of understanding of Ukraine’s goals.”
What Happens Next
Before the Friday meeting, many talks will happen. European leaders want to talk to Trump to push for a ceasefire based on the current battle lines. They also want to keep economic pressure on Russia while working toward a longer peace deal.
