Ukraine’s NATO path received renewed support from Nordic and Baltic leaders on Tuesday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the Nordic-Baltic Eight summit in Tallinn for talks focused on defence cooperation, air security and pressure on Russia.
Nordic-Baltic leaders restate support for Ukraine’s NATO path
The leaders of the five Nordic and three Baltic countries said they supported Ukraine on its “irreversible path” towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. The wording echoes the pledge made by NATO allies at the 2024 Washington summit, but also reflects the limits of the current process: no formal invitation can be issued while the war continues and while Ukraine still has to meet accession requirements.
In their joint declaration with Ukraine, the NB8 leaders described Kyiv as a strategic security partner for NATO, arguing that Ukraine contributes directly to Euro-Atlantic security through battlefield experience, technological innovation and industrial capacity. The statement also framed Ukraine’s security as inseparable from the wider security of Europe and the Euro-Atlantic area.
The Tallinn summit was hosted by Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the NB8 format in 2026. Ahead of the meeting, Michal said supporting Ukraine was one of the main priorities of Estonia’s presidency and that the summit would discuss how to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities, increase pressure on Russia and make Europe more secure.
Tallinn summit puts air defence and drones at the centre
The meeting also focused on practical defence cooperation. The joint declaration identified air defence, drones, autonomous systems, maritime security, sustainment and logistics as priorities for future support to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy used the summit to highlight Ukraine’s experience in drone warfare and air defence. According to AP, he said Ukraine was ready to share drone technology with Nordic and Baltic partners, including low-cost interceptor drones that Kyiv has developed during the war. Estonia has particular interest in cheaper systems to counter drones that enter its airspace, as using fighter jets for such operations is costly.
The issue has become more relevant after drones linked to the war in Ukraine crossed into parts of the Baltic region in recent months. Ukrainian officials have said some drones aimed at Russian military targets were diverted by Russian electronic interference. For the NB8 countries, this has turned Ukraine’s battlefield knowledge into a direct asset for regional defence planning.
The summit also brought a concrete bilateral step. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Latvia had signed a drone cooperation agreement aimed at deepening joint defence work and co-production.
NB8 support for Ukraine reaches more than €42 billion
Estonia’s government said the combined support provided by the NB8 countries to Ukraine exceeds €42 billion, making the group one of Kyiv’s most important support formats in per capita terms. The figure underlines the political weight of a regional group that is small in population compared with larger European powers, but highly exposed to the security consequences of Russia’s war.
The NB8 brings together Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the format has become increasingly focused on security, defence readiness, sanctions and support for Kyiv.
The Tallinn declaration also called for stronger defence-industrial cooperation with Ukraine, including joint production, technology transfer and licensing arrangements. The leaders said removing bureaucratic obstacles would be important to accelerate cooperation between Ukrainian companies and European partners.
EU accession remains part of the security debate
While NATO membership remains politically sensitive and procedurally distant, the NB8 leaders also backed Ukraine’s progress towards the European Union. The declaration supported the opening of all negotiating clusters in June and July 2026 “without further delay”, while maintaining that accession should remain merit-based.
Zelenskyy said his talks with Nordic and Baltic leaders had focused on diplomacy, air defence and Ukraine’s EU path. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said Ukraine had made significant progress on reforms and that the EU should move forward.
For the NB8 countries, EU enlargement and NATO integration are increasingly treated as part of the same security discussion. The declaration described Ukraine’s EU membership as one of the key security guarantees for both Ukraine and Europe.
A regional message before the next NATO summit
The Tallinn summit sends a political message ahead of Ukraine’s expected participation at the next NATO summit in Ankara. The NB8 leaders said that meeting should be “effective for Ukraine”, especially on air defence and commitments to provide additional anti-ballistic systems and missiles.
The statement does not remove the obstacles to Ukraine’s NATO accession. It does, however, show that the Nordic and Baltic governments want to keep Ukraine’s long-term integration on the agenda while strengthening immediate military cooperation.
For Northern Europe and the Baltic region, the war has made Ukraine not only a recipient of support, but also a partner whose military experience is shaping Europe’s defence planning. The Tallinn meeting confirmed that this partnership is likely to remain central to the NB8’s security agenda.
