Fighting for a rules-based international order

Heading into the third winter of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression, we stand firm in our commitment to long-term political, financial, and military support to Ukraine.

Not for the first time, and quite likely not the last, we have reached a critical point in time for Ukraine, for Europe and for the world at large – including the Philippines. The people of Ukraine every day earn well-deserved admiration for their resilience against the illegal Russian aggression, despite terrible sacrifices. And we remain steadfast in our commitment for long-term support to Ukraine and its people as they defend their freedom, their democracy and their future. Lessening support to Ukraine now is not an option.

The price of Russia’s aggression is not only paid by the Ukrainians. The invasion has led to rising food and energy prices all over the world, including in the Philippines.

Both Nordic countries and the Philippines are staunch advocates of a rules-based international order. We must therefore continue to speak up and act against Russia’s illegal war of aggression, which constitutes a serious violation of international law, including the UN Charter. An international order based on international law must be upheld.

We applaud that the Philippines stands together with us in these challenging times as we fight to uphold the respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. If we don’t continue to stand up for Ukraine, we run the risk of a world with less freedom and less security.

That is why Ukraine’s fight for freedom is our fight as well, Nordics and Filipinos. And as their stakes and sacrifices today are so much higher than ours, the onus is on us to assist with all we can. Ukraine’s resilience is of crucial importance for international security.

The Ukrainians fight courageously for their country’s very existence. For universal values, for freedom, for democracy and for the right to decide one’s own future. Over the last 22 months, they have inspired and impressed the world and continue to do so.

Ukraine needs our friendship, our partnership, our solidarity more than ever. Their fight for freedom and our shared security depends on our perseverance in staying the course.

We stand firm in our support for Ukraine.

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Christian Halaas Lyster is Ambassador of Norway. Annika Thunborg is Ambassador of Sweden. Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin is Ambassador of Denmark. Juha Pyykkö is Ambassador of Finland.