LIVE: Leaders of Joint Expeditionary Force meet in Helsinki

Zelenskyy joins JEF as associated member

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in the summit as an associated member to coordinate defense assistance and strategy with northern European allies.

Norway trains 11,000 Ukrainian troops

Norway has trained 11,000 Ukrainian soldiers and currently ranks as the top financial supporter of Ukraine relative to GDP among allies.

Netherlands reaffirms military commitment

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, in his fourth week in office, pledged sustained financial and military aid to ensure Ukraine can defend itself against Russian aggression.

Battlefield technology exchange

Ukraine is delivering drone technology and frontline combat expertise to JEF allies, with Norwegian officials noting Ukrainian troops bring critical experience when training in Norway.

Targeting Russia's shadow fleet

Leaders agreed to intensify sanctions and maritime monitoring against Russia's Baltic Sea oil tankers to eliminate Moscow's financial resources for the war.

EU sanctions expansion

Norway supports 18 rounds of EU sanctions, while Estonia proposed extending restrictions to Russian commercial flights and combatants entering European Union airspace.

Baltic maritime enforcement

Finland is leading regional efforts to track and intercept shadow fleet vessels, with allies agreeing that economic pressure is the most effective non-military tool to force negotiations.

Latvia hosts drone summit

Latvia will host a drone summit on May 27 to coordinate joint manufacturing, procurement, and capability development among JEF nations.

Asymmetric defense challenge

Leaders emphasized the unsustainable economics of using expensive air defense missiles against cheap Russian drones, urging development of cost-effective countermeasures.

Spillover incidents in Baltics

Estonia cited a recent drone incident on its territory as evidence that all Baltic states require enhanced aerial defenses against spillover from the Ukraine war.

JEF complements NATO

Leaders affirmed the JEF strengthens NATO's European pillar rather than replacing it, serving as a crucial platform for northern European neighborhood security.

Estonia's defense spending

Estonia reported defense expenditure exceeding 4% of GDP, setting a benchmark for allied contributions to deter Russian aggression.

Arctic and North Atlantic focus

Iceland and Norway highlighted growing security challenges in the Arctic, with Iceland enhancing host-nation capabilities at Keflavik Air Base for allied air policing.