The leaders of the JEF countries decided in Riga to strengthen the Joint Expeditionary Force cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, the North Atlantic and the Arctic regions. They also agreed on supporting Ukraine.
19.12. 18:20•Updated 19.12. 18:33
RIGA The leaders of the Northern European countries and the Netherlands gathered in Latvia assured that they will support Ukraine as long as necessary.
– We discussed the situation in Ukraine, our views are indivisible: to support Ukraine until it gets the peace it deserves, President Sauli Niinistö said when meeting Finnish journalists after the meeting.
The JEF countries, i.e. the countries participating in the Joint Expeditionary Force defense cooperation, gathered in Latvia. These include Finland, Great Britain, Holland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Estonia.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi gave a speech at the beginning of the meeting remotely from Ukraine.
According to him, Ukraine and its allies must ensure that Russia loses the war and that it happens quickly. At the same time, he asked for more weapons by separately addressing each JEF country leader.
Zelenskyi thanked Finland for already delivered armored vehicles and rocket launchers. He also asked Finland for, among other things, anti-electronic warfare systems.
Sunak: Russia’s cease-fire proposals are pointless
Britain already announced a new artillery support package for Ukraine before the meeting. Prime minister Rishi Sun too according to the chancellery’s statement, the value of the package is almost 290 million euros.
– I hope that this will also encourage others sitting around the table to continue their strong support for Ukraine, Sunak said in his opening speech of the meeting.
He also stated that unilateral ceasefire proposals from Russia are completely useless. They would only give Russia the opportunity to organize and maintain its forces.
– Until Russia has completely withdrawn from Ukraine, there is nothing to talk about, the Prime Minister said.
Sunak also stated that the JEF countries are among Ukraine’s closest friends.
The heads of state arriving at the meeting were also asked about the French president Emmanuel Macron from the idea that Russia needs security guarantees in Europe.
Among other things, the prime ministers or presidents of the Netherlands, Lithuania and Estonia all pitched the idea.
– Russia’s neighbors are the ones who need security guarantees. If Russia gives its neighbors security guarantees, guarantees of similar scope and credibility can be considered, President Sauli Niinistö said.
Arctic war exercise coming in 2023
The goal of the British-led JEF group is to develop the countries’ military capabilities through joint exercises, prevent crises and, if necessary, act together in crisis situations. At Monday’s meeting, it was decided to strengthen the cooperation.
– We agreed to increase cooperation in the fight against hybrid threats, especially in defense against threats to undersea communication and our energy infrastructure, in the closing statement of the summit (you will switch to another service) it is stated.
The JEF countries start to share intelligence information even more effectively and begin to cooperate with industry, among other things.
As a demonstration of Arctic cooperation, the JEF countries will organize the JEF Warrior war exercise next year.
See reporter Rain Kool’s report on Latvia at 6pm in the news.