Finland, Greece hope de-escalation of Ukraine tension

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias on Tuesday met in Helsinki and discussed various bilateral and international issues, particularly the present worsening security tension in Ukraine.

They also expected a fruitful outcome from the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to deescalate the situation in Ukraine.

“We are following the discussion between Putin and Lavrov. It is important, if Russia now deescalates the situation,” Haavisto said at the joint press conference with Dendias after the meeting.

Both the Foreign Ministers, however, expressed their concern over the worsening security tension in Ukraine.

“We have opportunity to focus the Ukraine situation. We are extremely concerned,” said Dendias at the press conference, adding that constructive dialogues are always welcomed but it should be taken place in international manner.

The ministers also discussed various bilateral future cooperation in different sectors and European issues.