Nordic Council call on the Russian Federation to withdraw its armed forces
- It is up to the people of Ukraine in a peaceful way to decide on their own future. Ukraine, the Russian Federation and EU will all benefit from a peaceful solution instead of a sad conflict. The situation is unfortunately now so tense, that we must postpone a planned visit to Murmansk next week to later.
Statement about the crisis in Ukraine:
This year we in the Nordic countries celebrate 200th anniversary of peace among each other. This long period of regional peace is unique. The importance of this historical situation to the entire Nordic region cannot be overstated. It has enabled many relationships based on trust and confidence across our borders with extensive contacts and co-operation on all levels.
In 25 years since the end of the Cold War we have also experienced good relations with our neighbours to the East including with the Russian Federation. We have since then had both direct contacts to Russian parliaments and have been working together in regional organisations such as for the Baltic Sea and the Arctic in order to solve mutual problems.
The situation is unfortunately now so tense, that we must postpone a planned visit to Murmansk next week to later. Unless the situation further escalates we wish however to continue to have dialogue with parliamentarians from Russia. But the situation in Southeast of Europe has impact on our relations in Northern Europe, so we will carefully evaluate the development and might reconsider this dialogue if we don’t see de-escalation.
We agree with the joint statement regarding the situation in Ukraine issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Nordic, Baltic and Visegrad countries after their meeting in Narva in Estonia on 6-7 March. We will on a parliamentary level also make consultations with our partners in Baltic Assembly and with parliamentarians from the Visegrad countries.
We agree in the Foreign Affairs Ministers condemnation of the unprovoked violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity by the Russian Federation and call on the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its armed forces to the areas of their permanent stationing, in accordance with the relevant agreements. The decision to hold an illegitimate referendum in Crimea on accession to the Russian Federation violates the Ukrainian constitution and is unacceptable. We call on the Russian Federation to take urgent steps to de-escalate the tense situation that could lead to a new Cold War in Europe.
