Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen to participate in informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Warsaw

The EU Foreign Affairs Ministers will convene at an informal meeting (Gymnich) in Warsaw, Poland on 7–8 May. Poland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of this year, and Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski will host the meeting together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will represent Finland at the meeting.

The topics to be discussed include Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The focus will be on the EU’s support to Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace.

“We must support Ukraine and maximise the pressure on Russia to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position. The peace to be achieved must be a just and lasting one,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Valtonen says.

The meeting will also discuss the relations between the EU and the United States from a foreign and security policy perspective. In connection with the meeting, the ministers will have informal discussions with the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Foreign Affairs Ministers of the candidate countries for EU membership. 

“The United States and the United Kingdom are the most important strategic partners for the EU. The commitment of the United States to Europe’s security is still essential. Europe is prepared to bear its responsibility by significantly increasing the contributions to its own security and defence,” Valtonen says.