Nordic, Baltic leaders arrive in Kyiv on eve of Independence Day

Nordic and Baltic leaders have arrived in Kyiv on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day, in a show of solidarity from Ukraine's closest partner nations ahead of a larger Coalition of the Willing meeting.

"We feel we are not alone. Our allies are with us," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X on Aug. 23.

This year's holiday marks Ukraine's fifth Independence Day since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Sybiha had welcomed leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway, along with other senior representatives, at the Kyiv Railway Station.

The Nordic and Baltic countries have been among Ukraine's staunchest allies since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion.

Sybiha added that they would hold bilateral and multilateral talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky and that important decisions and announcements would be made.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that over the next two days, he will join Ukraine's Flag Day and Independence Day events, meet Zelensky, and take part in discussions with Nordic-Baltic countries and the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

"Standing with Ukraine today — as it marks National days — and always," Nauseda said.

The President's meetings have already borne their first fruits. Zelensky said on Aug. 23 that he took part in a roundtable meeting on Ukrainian-Finnish cooperation in the defense industry with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.

"Today, we are taking another step toward deepening our cooperation by combining Ukraine's combat experience with Finnish technologies," Zelensky said.

"Our companies signed documents on the development and production of drones in Finland for the needs of Ukraine and Europe, expanding capabilities in the field of uncrewed naval systems, and establishing a company to manufacture UGVs," he added.

Stubb wrote on X that Finnish companies Insta, Boomeranger, and Patria signed agreements with their counterparties in Ukraine during the visit.

"Industrial cooperation is being advanced across land, sea, and air domains. Both Finland and Ukraine are winners in this cooperation," Stubb said.

Zelensky also met the former Vice-President of the United States of America, Mike Pence, during the National Prayer Breakfast in Kyiv. Zelensky said that he briefed the Senators on Russia's "ongoing ballistic missile terror."

"It is very important for Ukraine to have the capabilities to counter this, and implementing the decision to grant licenses for the production of Patriots could significantly help," Zelensky said.

Ukraine is seeking more Patriot interceptors ahead of winter, Zelensky said on Aug. 22, revealing that Ukraine had only received 264 missiles for the advanced surface-to-air system this year so far.