Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy makes surprise visit to Finland for Nordic summit
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The Ukrainian leader will hold talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, and have bilateral meetings with prime ministers from other Nordic nations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the Finnish capital for a surprise visit, and talks with Nordic prime ministers.
The visit is hosted by Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö, who takes the lead on foreign policy issues, and talks will include “Ukraine’s defence struggle,” as well as Finnish support for Ukraine and bilateral relations, according to a statement from the president’s office.
Zelenskyy will attend a working lunch with outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, and he’ll also meet the incoming prime minister, Petteri Orpo who is currently holding talks on forming a new government after April’s election.
Niinistö and Zelenskyy will hold a joint press conference at 12:00 CET (13:00 Helsinki time).
In the afternoon, President Niinistö will host a Nordic-Ukrainian Summit, which will be attended by Zelenskyy as well as Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson, Norway’s PM Jonas Gahr Støre, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and the prime minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
The afternoon summit will discuss “the situation of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, the Nordic countries’ continued support for Ukraine, the developments in Ukraine’s relationship with EU and NATO and Ukraine’s initiative for a just peace,” according to Niinistö’s office.
Each of the Nordic prime ministers will have the chance to have a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy as well, and will take part in a joint press conference at the end of the day in Helsinki.