Oslo: Foreign ministers from eight Nordic and Baltic countries have collectively urged Russia to immediately cease its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The call follows intensified strikes on major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

According to Anadolu Agency, the ministers from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden issued a joint statement condemning Moscow’s actions. They highlighted that these escalations have forced Ukraine to declare a nationwide state of emergency. The ministers emphasized that targeting essential services like electricity, heating, and water during winter is a violation of international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.

The ministers expressed particular concern over attacks on electrical substations connected to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, noting the heightened risk to nuclear safety, the civilian population, and neighboring regions. They called upon Russia to cease its “reckless and absolutely unacceptable behavior” and reiterated their support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), urging for safe and unhindered access for inspectors to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

The group also commended progress toward establishing an international compensation mechanism for war victims and a special tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression. They reaffirmed their solidarity with Ukraine, pledging ongoing financial and military support, alongside efforts to mobilize emergency funding to repair damaged infrastructure and provide humanitarian assistance.

The statement concluded with a reiteration of support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for a just and lasting peace in accordance with international law and the UN charter.