Current affairs
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3.11.2026
Finland-backed fund helps identify the deceased in Ukraine war
During its first three months of operation, the new DNA laboratory in Ukraine has helped identify nearly 200 people who went missing during the war. The laboratory was established with support from the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), for which Finland is contributing a total of EUR 8.8 million in 2022–2027 as part of its bilateral development cooperation with Ukraine. Other donors to the fund are Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada.
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29.10.2026
Finland supports UN Women initiative to strengthen women’s participation in peace processes
Finland is providing EUR 200,000 to a UN Women initiative aimed at promoting women’s participation in mediation and peace processes. Finland is strongly committed to promoting human rights and gender equality through its foreign policy and has long supported the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security agenda.
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26.10.2026
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha and Norwegian Foreign Minister Eide to visit Helsinki
Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha and Norway’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide will visit Helsinki and meet Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen on 27 October. The foreign ministers of Finland, Ukraine and Norway will also hold a trilateral meeting to discuss the Ukraine peace process.
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22.10.2026
Finland grants EUR 8 million in humanitarian assistance for food insecurity and winter relief in Ukraine
In the remainder of 2026, Finland will grant a total of EUR 8 million in humanitarian assistance to address crises in Ukraine, South Sudan, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. As a result, Finland’s total humanitarian funding so far in 2026 amounts to approximately EUR 124 million, broadly in line with the average level of the previous two years.
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13.10.2026
Foreign Ministry introduces AI service for processing classified information
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has introduced its AI Assistant UMAI to an initial group of pilot users. The service enables the use of artificial intelligence to process information at national security classification level IV in a secure environment. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government ICT Centre Valtori are acting as pilot organisations in the development of a common secure AI platform for central government.
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12.10.2026
EU targets largest ever package of sanctions against individuals and entities supporting Russia’s war industry
The European Union (EU) adopted new sanctions against individuals and entities in Russia’s military industry complex and against individuals involved in organising the so-called elections for the Russian State Duma in the unlawfully annexed or occupied territories of Ukraine. This is the single largest set of sanctions listings ever agreed by the EU.
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1.10.2026
Finland to support Ukraine with EUR 50 million loan through World Bank Group
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs will grant a EUR 50 million development policy loan to the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. The loan will be provided for the Special Program for Ukraine Recovery 2.0 (SPUR 2.0), a new financing programme established by IDA to respond to Ukraine's substantial reconstruction and recovery needs.
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24.9.2026
Finland promotes efforts to ensure accountability in Russia’s war of aggression
On 24 September, the Government submitted to Parliament proposals for the acceptance and bringing into force of an agreement related to the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine.
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13.8.2026
Finnish expertise supports Ukraine – Wärtsilä to deliver engines for power plants from Vaasa
Finland is supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine's war-torn energy sector with EUR 28.5 million to be granted from development cooperation funds. The total value of the power plant technology involved is EUR 45.6 million, with Ukraine funding the remainder of the project itself.
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12.8.2026
Joint Statement on Notifications of Ballistic Missile Launches
The joint statement on Notifications of Ballistic Missile Launches was released by 41 Governments, and it was delivered at the August 11, 2026, meeting of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.