Zelensky meets Halla Tómasdóttir at Bessastaðir, emphasizes Nordic support for Ukraine

This morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir at Bessastaðir. Their discussions highlighted Iceland’s role as a steadfast ally in Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Concurrently, Nordic Prime Ministers held a joint press conference at the Alþingi where Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that both the Faroese and Greenlanders should have equal representation in all Nordic cooperation matters. Frederiksen noted that the war in Ukraine has shifted the global security landscape, especially in the Arctic region.

Following his meeting in Bessastaðir, Zelensky addressed the Nordic Council, expressing gratitude for the support from Nordic countries. He discussed Ukraine’s victory plan, which had been mutually agreed upon in discussions with Nordic leaders the previous day. He concluded by stating that the free world possesses everything it needs to defend itself, asserting Ukraine’s right to experience true peace, likening it to the clear waters he had seen at Þingvellir.

The Nordic Council’s session was officially opened by Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, Council President, along with remarks from Birgir Ármannsson, President of Alþingi, and Einar Þorsteinsson, the Mayor of Reykjavík. Discussions included security and defense issues, with a notable absence of Greenlandic representatives due to ongoing disputes regarding their full membership in the Council.

As the day progressed, Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo outlined Finland’s upcoming presidency in the Nordic Council for 2025, emphasizing mutual trust and collaboration across various sectors including sustainability and gender equality. Discussions around issues such as geopolitical tensions and the situation in Palestine were also central to the day’s agenda.