Foreign Ministry's press releases

The Ukraine Capacity Development Fund (UCDF) aims to support Ukraine’s policy and reform agenda. The fund supports on macroeconomic stabilisation, post-war reconstruction and Ukraine’s path to EU membership.

France will host an international conference on the current situation in Lebanon on 24 October 2024 in Paris. Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara will represent Finland at the event.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Berlin to attend the 25th anniversary of the Nordic embassies on 21 October. Foreign Minister Valtonen and her Nordic colleagues will meet Germany’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock in connection with the event.

At the presidential session on 18 October, the President of the Republic appointed a Head of Mission to Maputo and a non-resident Ambassador to Cambodia.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will make an export promotion visit to Vietnam and the Philippines on 21–25 October, accompanied by a business delegation.

On October 16th 2024, the Nordic-Baltic countries’ foreign ministers visited Odesa, Ukraine. The visit took place against the backdrop of intensified Russian attacks against Ukraine resulting in further loss of lives, injuries, and widespread destruction. Finland is represented by Political State Secretary Pasi Rajala.

Finland will end its crisis management participation at Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq by the end of this year. For ten years OIR has been the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. As agreed by the United States and Iraq in September, a transition phase towards the conclusion of the mission has begun. Finland joined the operation in 2015. Finland continues to support the security sector of Iraq through NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) and the EU’s civilian crisis management mission.

On 15 October 2024, the Nordic-Baltic countries’ foreign ministers will travel to Moldova. The visit comes ahead of the concurrent presidential elections and referendum on Moldova’s future relations with the European Union on 20 October. The Nordic-Baltic ministers are showing support for Moldova’s reforms and resilience in the face of intensifying hybrid attacks, and will share their experiences of membership and close relations with the European Union. Finland is represented by Political State Secretary Pasi Rajala.

The EU foreign ministers will convene in Luxembourg on 14 October. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

At its session on 10 October 2024, the Government appointed a new Strategy Director to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.