The Nordic societal resilience and resistance shall be increased, confirmed the Nordic leaders during a press conference after the summit at Alvar Aalto's sanatorium in Pemar, just outside Åbo.
In what is described in a joint statement as a time of increasing and more complex crises, the cooperation shall be increased through a "comprehensive security concept".
A given point on the agenda was the Ukraine issue. During the press conference, the Nordic countries emphasized the need for Russia to agree to a complete ceasefire.
A bad peace would be an invitation to a new attack. Therefore, we are very keen to get a peace on Ukraine's terms, said Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Increased military presence
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that he hopes that the USA's President Donald Trump puts pressure on Russia.
I hope that he understands that Putin does not want peace but wants to continue his war.
The topicality of the issue is emphasized by the fact that Russia has increased its military presence in the Baltic Sea, which Finland's Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen flagged in an interview with Yle over the weekend after Russian fighter jets violated Finnish airspace, and Orpo repeated during the press conference.
Autonomous regions
The fact that leaders of the autonomous regions of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland are now on the guest list, unlike last year's meeting with the Nordic leaders, also sends a certain message about the region's needs.
A good decision and an important message, said Denmark's Mette Frederiksen to journalists on site before the meeting and pointed to the importance of unity in the region.
Since the meeting in Stockholm last May, Greenland has been the subject of great power politics, as the USA has threatened to take over the territory. The need for increased defense cooperation around the Arctic has gained renewed focus due to Russia's great interest in the area.
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz participates as a guest of honor at Monday's dinner.
Sophie Tanha/TT
Facts: They participate in the summit
TT
Sweden's Ulf Kristersson, Denmark's Mette Frederiksen, Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre, and Iceland's Kristrún Frostadóttir participate together with Finland's Petteri Orpo and Åland's Katrin Sjögren, who are hosting the summer meeting.
Also, Greenland's Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the Faroe Islands' Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen are participating.
In the evening, Germany's Friedrich Merz will also join.
