Prime Minister Orpo at Nordic-Baltic Summit: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has reached a turning point, Ukraine needs strong support

Prime Minister Orpo at Nordic-Baltic Summit: Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has reached a turning point, Ukraine needs strong support

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo represented Finland at the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Summit in Tallinn on Tuesday 9 June. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in attendance, and Prime Minister Orpo also had a bilateral meeting with President Zelenskyy during the Summit. The agenda for the summit included Ukraine, European security, defence industry cooperation, competitiveness and the use of artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused on Ukraine's EU membership process, the state of peace negotiations and cooperation in drone technology.

"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has reached a turning point. Ukraine is defending itself and is able to strike critical targets in Russia. It is important to ensure that Ukraine gets the military and monetary support it needs," Prime Minister Orpo said.

"It is also clear that Ukraine is significantly contributing to Europe's security, and there is much we could learn from Ukraine," Prime Minister Orpo added.

Prime Minister Orpo underlined Finland's position that all of the chapters of Ukraine's EU membership negotiations need to be opened before the summer recess. This is also important for the EU's credibility and would send a clear message to Russia.

The Summit also discussed expanded and intensified sanctions on Russia as one way to bring Russia to the table for genuine negotiations on peace. Finland supports President Zelenskyy's call for a negotiated end to the war, as Ukraine recently brought up in a letter to the President of the Russian Federation.

The agenda also included discussions on the significance of a stronger role for Europe in the defence and security of the continent.

Discussions at the Summit concerning competitiveness and artificial intelligence dealt with how the Nordic and Baltic countries could further intensify their cooperation.

"Our strength is not based on what we do individually, but on what we can do and scale up together as a region. The NB8 countries can achieve concrete results in building a competitive digital society that maintains a high-level of trust, wellbeing and security," Prime Minister Orpo said.

At the end of the Summit, the NB8 leaders also attended an informal evening function with the Nordic Investment Bank's President and CEO André Küüsvek.

Inquiries: Laura Quist, Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 50 439 1677, Kirsi Hölttä, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 160 554 and Lauri Heikkinen, Senior Communications Specialist, tel. +358 46 923 5090, Prime Minister's Office