Prime Minister Stubb spoke with Russian Prime Minister Medvedev

On Tuesday 15 July, Prime Minister Alexander Stubb spoke for nearly an hour with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the phone. In the call initiated by Prime Minister Stubb, the premiers had an open discussion about the bilateral relations between Finland and Russia, the situation in Ukraine and the European Council meeting to be held on 16 July. - The situation in Ukraine has posed new challenges for cooperation between Finland and Russia. As an EU Member State, our position on the Ukraine crisis is very clear. At the same time, we consider it very important to conduct high-level dialogue with Russia now and in the future, said Prime Minister Stubb. Prime Minister Stubb said to Prime Minister Medvedev that he hoped Russia would use its influence on separatists in eastern Ukraine and thereby contribute to a speedy resolution of the crisis. Stubb told Medvedev that, in its meeting on 16 July, the European Council will discuss a number of key EU appointments and the situation in the Middle East, but also the crisis in Ukraine and possible further restrictive measures by the EU. Inquiries: Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 748 3867, Prime Minister’s Office.