Eight EU Nations Urge Putin for 30-Day Ceasefire

The eight Nordic and Baltic countries that make up the NB8 format have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to an immediate and unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. 

The Gaze reports on this with reference to a statement issued by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - the NB8 countries - issued a joint statement in support of Ukraine.

"Ukraine wants peace. We, the Baltic and Nordic countries, also want peace," the statement reads.

The statement stressed that if the ceasefire is not respected, the European Union, together with the United States and other partners, will be forced to impose additional sanctions on Russia.

Michal stressed that the countries call on Russia to agree to an unconditional and immediate 30-day ceasefire.

"This is the first step towards a just and sustainable peace. President Zelenskyy has repeatedly demonstrated a sincere desire for peace and a willingness to meet with Putin in person," he said.

As The Gaze reported earlier, despite renewed international appeals for a ceasefire, including a 30-day truce, Ukraine's Armed Forces report no indication that Russia is preparing to de-escalate. On the contrary, Russian troops launched one of the largest drone attacks in weeks overnight, targeting multiple regions across the country.