Helsinki, 23 August 2023
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is on a visit to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this morning. Orpo will also attend the third Crimea Platform Summit. In his meeting with Zelenskyy, Orpo stressed that Finland’s strong and unwavering support to Ukraine would continue.
Prime Minister Orpo and President Zelenskyy discussed the current state of Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Finland’s political and material support to Ukraine, and Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a just peace. They also discussed reconstruction, Finland’s development cooperation in Ukraine and Ukraine’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership.
“Finland has strongly condemned Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine since the very beginning. Finland’s support for Ukraine and its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity will continue over the long term,” Orpo said.
Finland’s overall support to Ukraine is over EUR 1.7 billion. Finland has sent Ukraine 17 packages of defence materiel with a total value of EUR 1.2 billion. Ukraine is Finland’s largest partner country in development cooperation, and Finland is preparing for the country’s reconstruction.
At a joint press conference following the meeting, Prime Minister Orpo said the Government was preparing to send Finland’s 18th defence materiel package to Ukraine.
“We will make a decision and let you know more about it later this week.”
Together with its partners, Finland supports Ukraine’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership.
“The people of Ukraine are fighting for their freedom and for our shared values. Ukraine belongs in the West – in the European Union and NATO,” said Prime Minister Orpo.
Finland is currently drawing up a reconstruction plan for Ukraine in cooperation with the public and private sectors.
“Our reconstruction efforts will make use of Finland’s expertise, especially in the green transition, education, digitalisation and the energy sector,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister visits Finnish-built temporary housing in Irpin
While in Ukraine, Prime Minister Orpo visited the village of Irpin, where he took a tour of housing units built through a Finnish project. The temporary family housing units donated by Finland are providing housing for around 200 Ukrainians who have lost their homes.
According to an estimate by the UNHCR, more than 14 million people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s illegal war of aggression. The Ukrainian authorities estimate that around 140,000 residential buildings have been destroyed or damaged since the start of the war.
Source – Finnish Government