Iceland reiterates support for Ukraine at events in Geneva and Kyiv
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, was a keynote speaker at a side-event that was held in Geneva on 24 February to mark four years since Russia´s unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, the Minister had put emphasis on Ukraine in her address to the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council which began in Geneva Monday. Iceland is an elected member of the Council 2025-2027.
Iceland along with Norway and the Ukranian Permanent Mission to the Human Rights Council organized the side-event in Geneva on Tuesday. In her address, Minister Gunnarsdóttir reiterated that Iceland stands with Ukraine. She reflected on the quiet, daily courage of ordinary people who have endured relentless uncertainty, loss, and fear. „Through bombardment, displacement, and the grinding weight of winter, without reliable heat or light, they have been asked to summon resilience again and again–when hope must feel impossible – as the world’s attention is stretched thin across a record number of conflicts in recent memory,“ Gunnarsdóttir said, adding that Icelanders understand well the meaning of cold. „We know how essential energy is to dignity, safety, and survival. When energy infrastructure is damaged, the cold is a hardship that seeps into every aspect of life. “
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir attended a memorial event in Kyiv along with other European leaders. Frostadóttir also participated in a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and a summit of of the Nordic and Baltic leaders with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Prime Minister announced, in these meetings, a contribution of ISK 800 million to provide urgent support to the energy sector, channelled through the UNDP and the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.
Additionally, three Icelandic energy companies, Landsnet, Veitur and Norðurorka have donated transformers, components and other spare parts, for Ukraine’s energy sector. The donation is facilitated by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and will be shipped from Reykjavík to Ukraine this week.
At the NATO defense ministerial meeting in Brussel on 12 February Foreign Minister Gunnarsdóttir announced a contribution of ISK 1 billion to the NATO PURL Initiative and ISK 300 million to the NATO Security Assistance & Training Ukraine (NSATU).
Please refer to this page for an overview of Iceland´s support to Ukraine.