Ukraine on Wednesday obtained “enhanced partnership” status in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) alliance of northern and eastern European countries, said Britain’s Defence Minister John Healey.
The 10-strong JEF led by Britain also includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, all NATO members.
“I think this agreement is a very strong message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” Healey said to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
“Ukraine has the very staunchest of European allies, and these 10 JEF nations … are demonstrating that we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
The agreement was signed in the Norwegian city of Bodo, in the Arctic during a meeting between defence ministers of the coalition countries and their Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmygal.
“Ukraine can strengthen the JEF,” said Shmygal in a post on X.
“We will share knowledge in countering hybrid aggression, the employment of air-defence forces, the use of drones, protection of national infrastructure, and long-range strikes,” he added.
Norway’s Defence Minister said in a statement that the agreement “reinforced co-operation” and enabled faster and more efficient co-operation between the allies.
And he said to NRK that the agreement “contributes to preparing Ukraine to become a member of NATO.”
NATO leaders, at their 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, said Ukraine had a future in the alliance but did not set out a fixed calendar.
The JEF was set up in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
