Zelenskyy meets Baltic and Nordic leaders in Estonia to discuss Ukraine's defense and pressure on Russia

In Tallinn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the leaders of Baltic and Nordic countries to strategize on bolstering Ukraine's defenses and intensifying pressure on Russia. The meeting, hosted by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, included leaders from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Latvia, and Lithuania.

"We will discuss how we can strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities, increase pressure on Russia, and ensure greater security for all of Europe," Kallas stated before the one-day talks. These eight nations, known as the NB8 group, are among Ukraine's most steadfast allies, having supported the country for over four years since Russia's invasion.

Collectively, these countries have provided more than 42 billion euros in aid. According to Estonia's State Chancellery, this represents the largest per capita contribution globally among the eight nations, five of which share a border with Russia. The discussions also addressed the prevention of incidents involving drones that violate national airspace.

Recent events have seen Ukrainian drones, used for attacks in northwestern Russia, repeatedly enter the airspace of Baltic countries and Finland after being diverted by electronic warfare. Estonia was the first Baltic nation where NATO fighter jets shot down an intruding drone, followed by a similar incident over Latvia. While these incidents caused no major damage or injuries, they sparked political debate and heightened tensions with Russia.