By KYIV. Nov 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The foreign ministers of Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Ukraine say it is necessary to deprive Russia of its main export income so that it loses the opportunity to finance its war against Ukraine.
"We agree on the need to continue to impose economic costs on Russia and on other countries, individuals or entities providing support for Moscow’s war of aggression. We reiterate the necessity to strengthen sanctions on Russia and to ensure that the measures are strong and efficient. Russia’s main export revenues must be cut off, so that they are no longer able to fuel its war against Ukraine. We should continue to raise the cost for Russia until the very last Russian soldier has left the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and until Russian aggression has stopped," the ministers said in a joint statement, the text of which was distributed by the press service on Monday Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Ministers said Ukraine has an inalienable right to self-defence to ensure independence and sovereignty and restore its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. "Russia must stop its aggression and withdraw its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine… We will never recognize the illegal attempted annexation of Ukraine’s territories, including Crimea. We reaffirm our joint efforts to further strengthen the activities within the International Crimea Platform aimed at achieving the de-occupation of Crimea," they said.
The heads of departments said the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltic States have provided significant political, economic, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. "We will continue working together in providing political and practical support to ensure Ukraine’s ability to defend its independence and territorial integrity," according to the statement.
