On 16 October 2024, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and Nordic countries (NB8) visited Odesa in Ukraine. The visit took place against the backdrop of intensified Russian attacks against Ukraine resulting in further loss of lives, injuries, and widespread destruction. The needs are immense, especially in the energy sector as Ukraine is bracing up for its third winter since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Nordic Baltic countries are united in their unwavering commitment to support Ukraine. During the visit, the Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers informed the Ukrainian side about a substantial winter package of measures in response to Ukraine’s most pressing needs, including energy, social infrastructure and humanitarian support. The support aims to alleviate the suffering caused by Russia’s attacks by contributing to basic needs such as heating and clean water during the cold winter months.
Foreign Minister Baiba Braže: “The NB8 countries are the world’s second largest donor in terms of support to Ukraine. We visited Odesa because the city is strategically important not only to Ukraine’s economy and security, but also globally, as grain is shipped from the ports of Odesa through the Black Sea corridor to across the globe. It is astounding that Ukraine has brought back the cargo handling volumes to pre-war levels and is capable of both growing and shipping grain. At the same time, Odesa is currently subject to increasingly intense attacks by Russia, which demonstrates, once again, that Ukraine must be provided all the military and financial support it neds to strengthen its combat capabilities and air defences – and this also includes lifting any restrictions on Ukraine from using long-range weapons on military targets inside Russia. We, NB8 ministers all agree on this.”
“Ukraine is fighting not only for itself, but for all of us. Latvia’s priorities are to reduce Russia’s military capabilities, to continue providing military, financial and other support to Ukraine, as well as to achieve international support to Ukraine and ensure that Russia is held accountable in all possible formats,” Baiba Braže underlined at the press conference.
She also noted it was important to continue strengthening sanctions against both Russia and its co-aggressors to undermine support for Russia’s machinery of war economy. Baiba Braže also emphasized that Latvia and Ukraine would cooperate on the sanction circumvention issues in future.
Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Coordinator of the NB8, Maria Malmer Stenergard, pointed out on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic delegation: “Our visit to Odesa today is a manifestation of the Nordic Baltic countries’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine’s heroic fight against Russia’s aggression is not only about defending Ukraine’s freedom, but all of ours.”
The delegation was received in Odesa by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha, to discuss the current situation, pressing needs, Ukraine’s efforts for a just and lasting peace as well as Ukraine’s EU accession progress including related reform progress.
The Ministers then met with the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksyi Neizhpapa, and with officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office, who briefed them on the evidence obtained for war crimes perpetrated by Russia against Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
The Ministers paid a visit to the Odesa military hospital and met the wounded soldiers: “Lying in a hospital bed is harder than being on the battlefront” – that is what we heard today from soldiers who are currently being treated for their injuries sustained on the front lines. The chief medical officer of the hospital, for his part, thanked Latvia for its support: military hospitals are using medical equipment delivered from Latvia. The visit to the hospital was emotionally charged and very encouraging – the morale and spirit of the Ukrainians is unbreakable,” Baiba Braže stressed.
Ministers also visited a memorial site for the fallen soldiers and laid candles.
The Nordic Baltic countries have committed significant resources in support to Ukraine and this support will continue. During the visit, a substantial Nordic-Baltic winter package was pledged in response to Ukraine’s most pressing needs ahead of the coming winter, including energy, social resilience and humanitarian support. Together, the Nordic Baltic countries will contribute with turbines, generators, solar panels, transformers and heating equipment as well as financial support to the energy sector and to the reconstruction of critical social infrastructure. This support, and the already earmarked support for next year, will strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities to provide electricity, heating, clean water, healthcare, education, and other critical social and civilian infrastructure.
The NB8-delegation to Ukraine consisted of the Chair of the NB8 format, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer-Stenergard, Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Estonia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Finland Pasi Rajala, State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Iceland Martin Eyjólfsson, Latvia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže, Lithuania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis and Norway’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.
In 2024, Sweden is serving as Coordinator of the informal foreign and security cooperation format of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8). Joint efforts to strengthen both immediate and long-term military and civilian support to help Ukraine prevail is central to the Nordic Baltic cooperation format. The Nordic-Baltic Foreign Ministers last visited Odesa, Ukraine, in April 2023, when Latvia was Coordinator of the NB8.
Further information / facts
- On 15 October 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decision to allocate financial resources to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance in the amount of EUR 1 736 000 from funding previously earmarked for this purpose in this year’s State budget for measures of comprehensive support and reconstruction of Ukraine.
The Cabinet supported measures to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine’s energy sector and Ukrainian society during the winter months. Support also focuses on promoting human rights protection, civilian mine clearance, support for Ukraine’s EU integration reforms, as well as Ukraine’s involvement in strengthening global food security. The funding granted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will mainly cover contributions to be paid to international organisations for their programmes that ensure achievement of the relevant objectives. They include the United Nations programmes and bodies, the international Energy Community’s Ukraine Energy Support Fund, the Council of Europe’s Register of Damage, the World Health Organisation, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, The Halo Trust, and the Grain from Ukraine programme.
EUR 100 000 is allocated to the Centre MARTA association for the reconstruction of premises at the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Centre for the Protection of Human Rights in Chernihiv in accordance with a request from the Chernihiv Region Administration. The Centre MARTA project is administered by the Central Finance and Contracts Agency (CFLA), thereby expanding Latvia’s involvement in the reconstruction of the Chernihiv Region.
EUR 250 000 is allocated to the Ministry of Finance for contributing to the World Bank’s “The Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund” towards Ukraine’s macro-financial and reform support.
- On 11 April 2024, an Agreement was signed between the Latvia and Ukraine on Long-Term Support and Security Commitments.
See more: Latvia and Ukraine sign a historic agreement on long-term security commitments
