Leaders' statement from the Joint Expeditionary Force meeting.
"We, the Leaders of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and
Sweden, united through our membership of the Joint Expeditionary
Force (JEF), met today to reaffirm our commitment to the
restoration of peace and security in Europe in light of Russia’s
unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. We condemn in the
strongest possible terms Putin’s brutal attack against Ukraine,
its territorial integrity and people. This is a clear violation
of the sovereignty, freedom and independence of a democratic
European country and a flagrant breach of Russia’s obligations
under international law. We call upon Russia to implement and
uphold an immediate ceasefire to halt the developing humanitarian
crisis and allow rapid and unimpeded access for Ukraine’s
civilian population to food, water and medical aid. Russia must
respect international humanitarian law. We support the
investigations of the International Criminal Court into alleged
war crimes. The world will hold Russia to account for its
actions. Putin must fail. We are working in lockstep with Allies
and international partners to impose unprecedented sanctions on
Putin’s regime in response to its illegal invasion, and to ensure
that Belarus is also held to account for its involvement. We call
on Putin to de-escalate, withdraw his forces and return Ukraine
to its internationally recognised boundaries.
We are steadfast in our commitment to support Ukraine in the face
of this unconscionable attack and pay tribute to the courage and
resolve of the Ukrainian people, led by President Zelenskyy. JEF
nations remain committed to supporting Ukraine at pace with
military aid to ensure Ukraine is best able to defend itself.
Directly, and through multilateral organisations, we are
providing significant economic and humanitarian support in
response to the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the
region, to ensure that Ukrainians have access to basic
necessities and medical supplies. Special attention must be paid
to the security of women and girls who represent a majority of
those fleeing the war. We welcome the international unity shown
at the UN General Assembly and invite the international community
to sustain and coordinate the political, humanitarian, and
economic support that is so vital for a free and independent
Ukraine.
Putin’s actions are fundamentally challenging the security
architecture of the Euro-Atlantic area. We need to ensure that
such actions remain unacceptable and that no other nations can
fall victim to attempts of violent expansionism. All sovereign
nations have the right to choose their own security arrangements
without the threat of external aggression. To that end, as a
like-minded group of nations willing to demonstrate resolve, we
will ensure that JEF continues to play a credible role in
contributing to defence and deterrence in the region, keeping our
countries and our continent safe. We commit to an enhanced
programme of integrated JEF exercises and activities at sea, on
land and in the air in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic
Sea region. These activities, already being developed,
demonstrate our solidarity, capability and resolve. We will work
in complementarity to NATO and the EU to ensure that Russia
cannot continue to threaten European security, including through
recalibrating our approach to Russia, reducing our reliance on
Russian hydrocarbons, taking part in forward defence in
conjunction with our Allies, reinforcing our cooperation within
and beyond the JEF, and playing an active part in restoring a
safer and more peaceful world."
