Foreign Ministry's press releases

On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that Finland will increase its aid to Ukraine and also provide military protective equipment to assist the country. The aid is granted under the Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. The Ministry of Defence is the authority responsible for the aid.

The Member States of the European Union approved the sanctions on Friday 25 February and the sanctions have entered into force.

Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. On 24 February, the Government decided to supplement its support to Ukraine by EUR 10 million of new funding.

The EU foreign ministers will convene for an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 25 February to discuss the European security situation.

Following Russia’s launch of a military attack in Ukraine, the Ambassador of Finland and all Finnish citizens employed by the Finnish mission in Kyiv have left the country for security reasons.

On Wednesday 23 February, the European Union imposed new sanctions due to Russia’s actions. On Monday 21 February, Russia announced that it had decided to recognise the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Eastern Ukraine. Russia's acts violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russia's actions are a grave breach of its international obligations and commitments, including the Minsk Agreements.

On Tuesday 22 February, based on an overall assessment of the security situation in Ukraine, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided to relocate its staff temporarily from Kyiv to Lviv.

EU foreign ministers will discuss, among other things, the sanctions on Russia after it recognised the independence of the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Berlin, Germany, on 22–23 February

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit London on 22 February and have a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss.