EC President discusses Ukraine situation with President, PM

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday held separate meetings with President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Helsinki and discussed various issues including the present Ukraine situation.

Niinistö met with von der Leyen in the President´s official residence Mäntyniemi exchanged views on the Ukrainian situation and European security, said the President Office in a press release.

Niinistö emphasized the internal solidarity of the Union towards it members states, also when it comes to security policy.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the EC President held a meeting and discussed topical EU matters, said a government press release.

In their talks, Marin and von der Leyen focused on the security situation in Europe. The European Union supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and the integrity of its borders.

Any further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response, the observed.

They also discussed measures that the EU can take, in line with the European Council conclusions, to prepare for different developments.

Finland supports the EU’s coordinated communication and joint action.

“We now need dialogue and diplomacy and, above all, measures from Russia to reduce military tension,” the Prime Minister said after the meeting.

Marin and von der Leyen also discussed issues that will be raised at forthcoming European Council meetings as well as initiatives related to forests and forestry, taxonomy and consideration of winter navigation in on-going legislative proposals.