A British-led defence alliance of several European countries has invited Ukraine to observe its exercises, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told a press conference on Friday, Reuters has reported.
Along with Britain, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), is comprised of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, and is intended for operations in the Baltic Sea area, the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
"Ukraine has been offered observer status for all JEF's exercises during 2024 and 2025, in order to strengthen their capacity and include their experiences," Kristersson said at a JEF summit on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took part in the meeting via video link.
He later said JEF leaders condemned Russian aggression and weaponization of food, reiterated their support for Ukraine and its path to NATO, invited Ukraine to observe JEF 2024-2025 exercises.
Kristersson said JEF member states' defence ministers will meet to discuss how to protect critical infrastructure, particularly under water. The group said in June it would increase cooperation to detect possible threats to critical undersea and offshore infrastructure.