Russia needs to play key role to solve Ukraine conflict: PM

Prime Minister Antti Rinne on Monday urged his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev to play proper role to solve the Ukraine conflict, which is also important to normalize the relation between European Union and Russia.

“Russia has a decisive role in solving the Ukraine conflict. The relations between the EU and Russia cannot be normalised until the Minsk agreements have been fully implemented. We do not accept the annexation of the Crimean peninsula. Finland was among those who made the decisions, and we are fully behind the policy pursued by the EU,” Rinne told Medvedev at a meeting in Moscow.

The main topic discussed by the Prime Ministers were international relations, said a government press release.

Prime Minister Rinne pointed out that the relations between the two countries are as good as they can be under the present circumstances.

With respect to the Ukraine conflict, Rinne stressed Russia’s key role in finding a solution.

The PMs of the neighbouring countries also discussed bilateral relations between Finland and Russia and environmental issues.

“There is a lot we can achieve together in environmental issues. We talked about concrete measures relating to the Paris Climate Agreement, and I also told about the Baltic Sea Summit that I have been planning,” said Rinne.

In connection with the trade relations between Finland and Russia, the Prime Ministers looked into the opportunities to develop the business environment in Russia.

“Russia is an important market for many Finnish companies. We have a lot of expertise in fields such as the treatment and management of industrial waste and wastewater,” the PM added.

Among the topics raised by Medvedev was the new act coming into force in the beginning of next year that will restrict real estate transactions involving foreign nationals.

“What I pointed out to Prime Minister Medvedev was that this act will apply to all non-EU and non-EEA nationals and companies, instead of being targeted to Russia alone,” Rinne added.

On his visit, Prime Minister Rinne was accompanied by Minister of Transport and Communications Sanna Marin and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä.