Niinistö, Zelensky discuss Russia-Ukraine border, Crimea crises

President Sauli Niinistö on Thursday held a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed various issues including the tense situation in the Crimean peninsula and at the border between Russia and Ukraine, said the Office of the President in a press release.

The presidents discussed possibilities to alleviate the tense situation and confirmed Finland’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Finland considers the implementation of the association and free trade agreements between the EU and Ukraine to be important.

They also discussed Ukraine’s intention to establish the so-called Crimean Platform.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Niinistö held a long telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and the tense situation in the Crimean peninsula and at the Russia-Ukraine border.

Niinistö that time expressed his serious concern at an escalation of the situation due to the troop movements and raised the need for dialogue and actions to reduce tensions.