Starmer points out that Finland, Sweden and Estonia have set an example by boarding or stopping ships suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet. France has also done so and on the way to the meeting, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten says that the authorities there should increase pressure and efforts against suspected ships that contribute to Russia's warfare in one way or another.
Hunt them
“We need to hunt them down even more,” says Starmer, adding that many of the ships, in addition to carrying valuable cargo for Russia, are often derelict and pose potential environmental disasters.
Starmer makes it clear that British authorities and the military will now intervene and stop ships from the shadow fleet if they pass through British waters.
In addition to the UK, the Baltic and Nordic countries, the Netherlands is also part of the JEF cooperation led by the UK. Ukraine has partner status and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending the meeting via a recorded video greeting; he had intended to participate via a live link.
In turmoil
"The oil and gas market is in turmoil, but we must not let Russia take advantage of it," says Zelenskyy, calling for increased efforts against shadowy vessels.
Perhaps Putin is not just rubbing his hands, as Keir Starmer puts it. According to the Reuters news agency, Russia has lost up to 40 percent of its export capacity due to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and shipping ports, including in Primorsk and Ust-Luga, near the Finnish and Estonian borders in the Gulf of Finland, respectively. And the pipeline that carries oil through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia is not operating.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says that cooperation between the Nordic-Baltic countries, as well as the UK and the Netherlands, is very strong. At the meeting, the leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine, the war there, as well as the effects of the war in Iran.
One of the most important things for Ukraine is financial support so that they can build a long-term defense, Ulf Kristersson tells the media on the way to the meeting.
He believes that the Baltic Sea has perhaps never in modern times been more challenged than today.
On the other hand, the Baltic Sea has perhaps never been more protected than today, surrounded by NATO countries that cooperate in a way we have never been able to do before, says Kristersson.
At dinner they will discuss relations with the United States.
Corrected: In a previous version there was an incorrect wording about Russia's export capacity.
Facts: JEF
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a collaboration for rapid military operations in Northern Europe, as a complement to the NATO defense alliance.
It was founded in 2014-15 with seven member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. In 2017, Finland and Sweden joined, followed in 2021 by Iceland.
The summit in Helsinki will be attended by Prime Ministers Jonas Gahr Støre (Norway), Kristen Michal (Estonia), Evika Siliņa (Latvia), Keir Starmer (United Kingdom), Kristrún Frostadóttir (Iceland), Rob Jetten (Netherlands) and Sweden's Ulf Kristersson, as well as Presidents Alexander Stubb (Finland) and Gitanas Nausėda (Lithuania).
In addition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will participate via video link. Denmark is represented by Anders Tang Friborg, foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
