Iceland and Ukraine

1. Recognition of Ukraine’s independence: January 19, 1992.

2. Establishment of diplomatic relations: March 30, 1992.

3. Political dialogue

Since 24.02.2022, Iceland has immediately and strongly condemned Russia’s large-scale military invasion of Ukraine and has been taking an active position in creating conditions for punishing Russia for war crimes, crimes of aggression, crimes against humanity and genocide in Ukraine.

Iceland supports the establishment of the Special International Tribunal for the punishment of the Russian Federation for the crime of aggression, provides financial assistance to the investigation of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, and joined international efforts to support Ukraine in the case against Russia in the International Court of Justice (genocide).

Iceland is actively involved in the development and promotion of relevant resolutions in the UN and other international organizations and lobbies for broad international support for Ukraine.

Iceland helps Ukraine receive military assistance, participates in Ramstein meetings and has joined all EU sanctions.

In 2022, 8 events, including meetings and phone calls, took place at the highest and highest political levels.

In 2023, Prime Minister of Iceland K. Jakobsdottir and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iceland T.K. Gylfadottir visited Kyiv. Meetings were held with the President, PM and MFA of Ukraine (03.14.2023).

On April 24, 2023, on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada R. Stefanchuk met with Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament B. Armannsson.

03.28.2023 – Icelandic Foreign Minister Thórfadóttir Gylfadóttir visited Odesa as part of a delegation of Baltic and Nordic foreign ministers.

01.05.2023 – telephone conversation between Prime Minister of Iceland K.Jakobsdottir and Prime Minister of Ukraine D.Shmyhal.

03.05.2023 – President Zelenskyy had a meeting with PM Jakobsdóttir during an official visit to Helsinki, Finland, in the framework of the Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit.

13-14.05.2023 – visit to Iceland by Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada O. Kondratiuk (meetings with the Speaker and Vice Speakers of the Althingi, Minister of Justice J. Gunnarsson, and Minister of Foreign Affairs T. Gylfadottir).

16-17.05.2023 – Prime Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Shmyhal participated in the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe Heads of State and Government in Reykjavik.

02.06.2023 – Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada R. Stefanchuk had a meeting with Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament B. Armannsson on the sidelines of parliamentary events in Vilnius.

4. Trade and economic cooperation

According to the results of 2022, Iceland ranks 31st in terms of bilateral trade in goods among Ukraine’s European trading partners with a share of 0.2%.

In 2022, the volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Iceland amounted to USD 82.2 million. The volume of exports of Ukrainian goods and services amounted to USD 82.2 mln. The volume of exports of Ukrainian goods and services to Iceland amounted to USD 3.1 million. The volume of exports of Ukrainian goods and services to Iceland amounted to USD 3.1 million and increased by 7.8% compared to 2021, while imports decreased by 38.4% and amounted to USD 79.1 million. The volume of imports decreased by 4% and amounted to USD 79.1 mln. The balance in trade in goods and services for this period is negative for Ukraine and amounts to USD 76.0 million. The trade balance in goods and services is negative for Ukraine and has amounted to USD 76.0 mln.

Trade in goods

According to the results of 2022, the trade turnover between Ukraine and Iceland amounted to 80.7 million USD, which is a significant increase. Exports amounted to USD 2.1 million. This is 43.5% more than in 2021, and imports amounted to USD 78.6 million, which is 38.8% less than in 2021. This is 38.8% less than in 2021. The balance of trade in goods for this period is negative for Ukraine and amounts to USD 76.5 million. The trade balance in goods is negative for Ukraine and amounts to USD 76.5 mln.

Trade in services

In 2022, the volume of trade in services between Ukraine and Iceland amounted to 1551.8 thousand dollars. The volume of exports amounted to 9.2 mln USD. Exports amounted to USD 989.2 thousand. This is 29.6% less than in 2021, while imports amounted to USD 562.6 thousand. This is 3.9 times more than in 2021. The balance is positive and amounts to 426.6 thousand dollars. The balance is positive and amounts to USD 426.6 thousand. The structure of exports of services: business services – 49.3%; telecommunications, computer and information services – 32.1%; transportation services – 17.6%. The structure of imports of services: transportation services – 98.6%; travel services – 1.0%.

5. Cultural and humanitarian cooperation

In 2012, the Association of Ukrainians in Iceland (Félag Úkraínumanna á Ísland) was registered in Iceland, which promotes the Ukrainian traditions, culture and art to the Icelandic public.

The Ukrainian community consists of 225 citizens of Ukraine, who mainly live in the capital, Reykjavik. Reykjavik.

Since February 2022, Iceland has provided temporary asylum to more than 2,700 Ukrainian citizens who were forced to flee the war. Iceland has created all the necessary conditions for their residence, education and full access to the healthcare system and labor market.

The Ukrainian community in Iceland, together with Icelanders, actively support Ukraine, organize charity events and fundraisers for Ukraine and Ukrainians affected by the war, and regularly hold rallies.

6. Legal framework: 7 documents in force: 1 convention, 5 agreements, and 1 memorandum of understanding (in the final stages of preparation: The Agreement between Ukraine and Iceland on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments and the Agreement between the CMU and the Government of Iceland on Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters).

7. Ukrainian community in Iceland

The Ukrainian community in Iceland includes several hundred compatriots across the country.

Since February 24, 2022, more than 2,700 Ukrainians have arrived in the country.

In 2012, the Society of Ukrainians in Iceland (Félag Úkraínumanna á Íslandi) was founded in Iceland. The organization regularly participates in representing Ukraine at international festivals (Fjölmenningardagar/Multicultural Days) held in Reykjavik in May/June and in Akranes or Borgarnes in October/November.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Society has been involved in active information and volunteer activities.

8. Diplomatic institutions: Embassies of Ukraine in Finland and Iceland (concurrently); Embassy of Iceland in Poland (concurrently in Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria); Honorary Consulate of Iceland in Kyiv (currently not functioning).