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Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visited Kyiv on 28 May 2025. Finland supports Ukraine On 24 February 2022, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in breach of the UN Charter and international law. Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in...

31.3.2026 | Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie visited Ukraine from 29 to 31 March. In Lviv, she took part, at Ukraine’s invitation, in a meeting on culture that examined the state of Ukrainian culture, the protection of cultural heritage and international cooperation including practical support measures. During the visit the Minister held one-to-one discussions with Deputy Prime Minister ...

16.4.2026 | Finland will refrain from participating in the Venice Biennale at the political level if Russia takes part in the Art Exhibition. Participation will be maintained at the level of public officials. Finland emphasises its backing of Ukraine and its commitment to European cooperation.

24.4.2026 | Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto will represent Finland at a high-level conference on economic resilience and security of the EU’s eastern border in Vilnius on 24 April 2026.

31.3.2026 | Over the past few weeks, Ukraine has carried out massive drone strikes on Russian oil facilities in the Gulf of Finland. On Sunday 29 March 2026, two drones strayed into the territory of Finland. The Government was briefed on the situation by the authorities on Tuesday 31 March 2026.

13.6.2025 | The EU’s energy ministers will meet in Luxembourg on 16 June 2025 to discuss the roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports and to approve conclusions on strengthening the energy union by reinforcing energy security. Finland will be represented by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.

24.2.2025 | Ukraine and its people have been fighting against Russia’s illegal war of aggression for three years. The Finnish Government will show its solidarity with Ukraine by flying the Finnish and Ukrainian flags on the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion on 24 February. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building, Merikasarmi, will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. The Presid...

4.10.2024 | The Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs has formulated the position of Finland on using immobilised Russian Central Bank assets to support Ukraine, and on establishing a cooperation mechanism for loans to Ukraine and granting macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.

16.7.2025 | Temporary protection for Ukrainians displaced by the war will be extended. The EU Foreign Affairs Council decided on 15 July 2025 to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2027.

23.2.2024 | The EU’s 13th package of sanctions is one of the largest agreed since the launch of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in terms of the number of sanctioned individuals. A total of 194 individuals and entities will be added to the list. They are individuals and companies that support Russian armed forces and individuals who have participated in the forced transfer of Ukrainian children. Export bans will...

29.9.2022 | On 29 September 2022, the Finnish Government issued a resolution to significantly restrict the entry of Russian tourists into Finland. The entry restrictions will enter into force on 30 September 2022 at 00.00, and they will remain in force until further notice.

7.6.2024 | The availability and price of natural gas (methane) have been at the heart of Europe's response to Russia's aggression in connection with the war in Ukraine. A massive military invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, but the energy war started already in summer 2021 as Russia manipulated gas trade to the European Union.

27.2.2025 | The process of granting temporary protection will become easier both for the beneficiaries and the authorities. At its session on 27 February, the Government proposed amendments to the Aliens Act and the entry-into-force provision of the Act on Temporarily Amending the Aliens Act. The President of the Republic is to approve the amendments on 28 February.

16.10.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments a draft government proposal on temporary protection. As the crisis in Ukraine drags on, there is a need to reform the legislation on temporary protection. The project will prepare the necessary amendments to the Aliens Act concerning people who have fled the war in Ukraine but also other possible situations of temporary protection in the future. 

22.8.2024 | In honour of Ukrainian Independence Day on Saturday 24 August, the Government will fly the Ukrainian flag at Senate Square in front of the Government Palace and at Martti Ahtisaari Square in the courtyard of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ main building Merikasarmi, which will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in the evening.

4.8.2023 | Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, approximately one third of the energy used in Finland was imported from Russia. That share was reduced almost to zero in a few months, and the energy war launched by Russia increased consumer prices remarkably. As the energy markets have changed, it is the time to look how Russian energy was replaced and what more permanent effects trade changes will have.

21.2.2023 | In their statement published on 20 February, the ministers of sport from 34 countries state that the International Olympic Committee should not change its decision of 28 February 2022 concerning the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sports. According to the ministers, the situation in Ukraine has deteriorated over the past year.

3.9.2024 | The Ministry of the Interior has set up a legislative project to amend the legislation on temporary protection in order to extend temporary protection for Ukrainian nationals and their family members even after 4 March 2025. The project will prepare the necessary amendments to the Aliens Act.   

25.6.2024 | Temporary protection for Ukrainians displaced by war will be extended until 4 March 2026, according to a decision taken by the EU General Affairs Council on 25 June 2024. Granting temporary protection makes it possible to provide protection to a limited group of people through a swift process that is lighter than the asylum procedure.

16.5.2023 | The Council of Europe has long been monitoring Russia’s alarming situation of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. For many years, the Council tried to exert influence over Russia by keeping the country as a Member and within the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). However, Russia launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 was the last straw, and the Council decided to expel Russia only three weeks later.