Niinistö congratulates Putin for victory in presidential poll

President Sauli Niinistö on Thursday made a telephone call to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and had a discussion on international security and strategic stability.

Niinistö expressed Finland’s deep concern over the nerve agent attack that took place in the United Kingdom and noted that Russia’s contribution in bringing clarity to the issue would be essential, said an official press release.

Relations between Russia and Britain deteriorated during the recent period following a nerve agent attack in Salisbury on a former Russian secret agent and his daughter.

During the discussion, the Finnish President also re-iterated his congratulations to Putin on his presidential election victory.

Putin was elected Russia's President on March 18.