Leaders from the eight Baltic and Nordic countries jointly issued a statement pledging support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity on Sunday amid rumors of a ceasefire deal between Russia and the U.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska to negotiate an end to the war. A White House official has said Trump is open to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attending but preparations are underway only for a bilateral meeting.

The G8 backed Trump's peace initiative with conditions. The leaders of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries issued a joint statement in which they warned against peace talks with Russia unless Ukraine's position and Europe's security interests are taken into account.