Frostadóttir on Trump: "Pleased to hear from us"
Kristrún Frostadóttir attended the summit in Oslo. Photo/Stine Østby
Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir says U.S. President Donald Trump responded positively during a joint call with leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), emphasizing unity on security and defense issues amid ongoing tensions with Russia.
Speaking from the JEF summit in Oslo, Frostadóttir stated that the leaders collectively urged Trump to support a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine and to apply trade sanctions if Russia fails to comply. The JEF coalition includes the Nordic and Baltic countries, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
A New Message from Trump
Frostadóttir highlighted that while Trump’s stance on Ukraine has previously lacked consistency, his recent remarks represent a shift in tone.
“We were there together as a group, pressing him to advocate a 30-day ceasefire and to clearly state that he, in partnership with other nations, would impose trade sanctions if Russia did not comply,” she said.
According to Frostadóttir, Trump welcomed the outreach from JEF leaders and emphasized the importance of strong ties with the coalition. “He was very positive about having good relations with this group of countries and believed it was important that we stand together. He was, of course, happy to hear from us.”
From the leaders' meeting. Photo/Stine Østby
Trump Issues Ceasefire Call
Shortly after the call, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. He warned that if the ceasefire is not respected, “the United States and its allies will apply further sanctions.”
This statement marks a notable development, as Trump has previously offered mixed messages about the U.S. position on Ukraine and its conflict with Russia. Frostadóttir acknowledged that uncertainty remains:
“I’m not going to speculate on the future, but it is quite clear this is a new message from the U.S. President. The idea of trade sanctions in coordination with allies has not been presented in this way before.”
Focus on North Atlantic and Arctic Security
The Oslo summit centered on Europe’s defense posture amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a special emphasis on North Atlantic and Arctic security. Leaders discussed the growing strategic importance of the region and the necessity for closer defense cooperation.
Frostadóttir reaffirmed Iceland's commitment to standing with its partners and maintaining pressure on Russia. “There has been movement based on these messages from the U.S. President. Now we have to see how Russia responds.”
