Zelenskyy arrives in Iceland for first time and states purpose of his visit
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Iceland for the first time on October 28 for a working visit. The purpose of his visit is to support Ukraine's victory plan, according to the President's Telegram channel.
"I am visiting Iceland for the first time on a working visit. I will participate in the fourth Ukraine-Northern Europe summit and hold bilateral talks with its participants: the Prime Ministers of Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden," Zelenskyy wrote.
According to him, he also plans to meet with the President and representatives of the Icelandic Parliament. During their meeting, they will discuss support for Ukraine's victory plan and areas where cooperation between the countries can be most effective.
Specifically, they will address issues such as financing Ukrainian arms production and long-range capabilities, preparations for winter, maritime security, restricting the Russian shadow fleet, defense support, and training and equipping Ukrainian soldiers.
"The Nordic countries are our principled and resolute allies, and the Ukraine-Northern Europe platform is one of our most effective multilateral formats. We continue to work together to realize its full potential," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Iceland
Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Iceland were established in 1992, following Ukraine's independence. Iceland recognized Ukraine's independence on January 15, 1991, becoming one of the first countries to do so.
The relationship between the two countries is friendly, but due to Iceland's remote location and size, the volume of cooperation remains relatively limited. The main areas of collaboration include the economy, education, energy, and cultural exchanges. Iceland supports Ukraine in international forums and advocates for its territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly after the onset of Russian aggression in 2014.
Iceland also supports the European Union's sanctions against Russia and provides humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Relations between the two states have strengthened amid Iceland's support for Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Although Iceland is not an EU member, it coordinates its position with the European Union and NATO and continuously supports Ukraine in international organizations such as the UN and the Council of Europe.
Previously, it was reported that Ukraine and Iceland signed a security guarantees agreement, in which Iceland committed to providing long-term economic, humanitarian, and defense support to Ukraine.
