Prime Minister Sanna Marin visits Kyiv on 26 May

On Thursday 26 May, Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Kyiv at the invitation of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. During her visit, she also met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and with the Chairman of Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

During the visit, Prime Minister Marin emphasised that Finland and the international community at large condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of the UN Charter, international law and the jointly agreed fundamental principles of European security. She stressed the need to increase support for Ukraine while continuing to ramp up sanctions against Russia.

“It is important for the European Union to be united, bold and determined in the face of Russia’s invasion,” Marin said.

The sixth EU sanctions package will be on the agenda at the special European Council next week. As Marin announced at the international donors’ conference in Warsaw on 5 May, Finland is preparing additional support for Ukraine. Finland is also prepared to increase its arms deliveries to Ukraine. President Zelensky thanked Finland for its determination in supporting Ukraine and expressed his gratitude to Finnish society as a whole for the strong support and concrete assistance given to Ukrainians. The President also highlighted the need to continue supporting Ukraine through arms deliveries and thanked Finland for its assistance so far. President Zelensky appealed in favour of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

Marin’s discussions with Prime Minister Shmyhal also addressed Ukraine’s application for membership in the EU. Ukraine is part of the European family and Finland supports Ukraine on its path to EU membership.

“It is important to create concrete steps for Ukraine to become an EU Member State,” Marin said during her visit.

The prime ministers also signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the education sector.

Marin’s programme included visits to Irpin and to the city of Bucha, where the Prime Minister learned more about the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion and heard local people’s accounts of the atrocities committed by Russian soldiers. During her visit, Prime Minister Marin emphasised that there would be no room for impunity. Finland firmly supports Ukraine and the International Criminal Court in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Inquiries: Iida Vallin, Special Adviser (Communications and Media Relations), tel. +358 295 160 947 and Päivi Paasikoski, Director of Government Communications, tel. +358 295 160 136, Prime Minister’s Office