go to the original language article
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M) did not arrive alone when he went to the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Instead, the ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries chose to appear together to speak to the international press at the meeting.
This happened with a call to increase military support to Ukraine.
The Nordic Baltic countries are the second largest donor to Ukraine after the USA.
“We are only eight small countries that are not economic heavyweights. So if others follow that example, there is no doubt that Ukraine can win,” says Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Thus, the eight countries in the northern and eastern part of Europe are trying to send a signal that the rest of Europe can do more.
“There are discussions underway about a post-war plan. But we believe that the most important message right now is that we must increase military support for Ukraine.
This way, they will be as strong as possible when the time for peace negotiations may come,” says Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
He does not direct criticism towards any specific countries. But large southern European countries such as France, Italy, and Spain have been criticized during the conflict for doing too little to help Ukraine.
Several countries – including the heavyweights Germany and France – are, however, facing major economic challenges that affect both citizens and public finances.
Therefore, creative thinking is needed. Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, suggests that Europe should seize the frozen Russian funds in Europe and use them for the war effort.
This is an escalation compared to now, where only the returns from the funds are used to support Ukraine.
“We must increase rapid military support for Ukraine. We must seize the 300 billion euros in frozen Russian funds so that we can give Ukraine the opportunity to fight for its freedom,” says Margus Tsahkna.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen did not manage to clarify at the short press conference whether Denmark agrees with the statement. But according to the other ministers, all eight countries agree to seize all the frozen Russian funds.
EU countries have so far been reluctant to take this step because it is believed that it would violate international rules that are meant to ensure that countries can safely place their money in different places around the world.
By using the frozen Russian funds, however, Europe would be able to fill the gap after the USA if Trump decides to stop American military support to Ukraine, it is said.
“Europe must stand together. We also want to emphasize this by standing here as a united group,” says Lars Løkke Rasmussen.