Nordic and Baltic countries confer with Zelenskyy in Copenhagen, as depicted in this collection of photos.

In a series of statements, Prime Minister Kristen Michal of the Reform Party has characterised the gathering of Russian leader Vladimir Putin with authoritarian allies as a display of military power. The gathering, it seems, was not just Putin's alone, as the leaders of various nations, including President Xi Jinping of China, were also in attendance, with Putin meeting Xi in Beijing.

The meeting in Copenhagen, where Prime Minister Michal held discussions with her Nordic and Baltic counterparts and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was part of the NB8 format. The NB8, a group consisting of Nordic and Baltic countries, has expressed its support for clear, binding, and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Prime Minister Michal's statement did not explicitly mention the NB8's call for such guarantees.

In contrast, Zelenskyy was welcomed in Copenhagen by "true friends of freedom".

The NB8 issued a joint statement after the discussion, calling for "credible" security guarantees for Ukraine. Yet, Michal's statement did not discuss this joint statement.

Michal's statements on social media have been firm, asserting that Putin does not want peace and that strength and power are needed to make him change his goals. Interestingly, her statements did not mention the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries willing to enforce a future ceasefire in Ukraine, which was scheduled to meet in Paris the following day.

As the international community navigates the complexities of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Prime Minister Michal's statements underscore the need for unity and a firm stance against authoritarianism. The NB8, with its commitment to supporting Ukraine, stands united in this mission.