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Finnish president to meet with Putin at Arctic Forum in Russia

Finland's President Sauli Niinistö is heading to St Petersburg, Russia next Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin saapuu Sauli Niinistön seurassa presidentinlinnaan.
File photo of Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Helsinki last July. Image: Yle

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg next week, as he attends the International Arctic Forum.

Niinistö is scheduled to address the plenary session of the forum on Tuesday 9 April, the first of a two-day "Arctic: Territory of Dialogue" event.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Finnish president's office said Niinistö would hold a bilateral meeting with Putin in connection with the forum, but did not elaborate on specific topics the leaders planned to discuss.

The aim of the forum, which is being held for the fifth time, is to support sustainable development in the Arctic, according to the president's office.

Finland is nearing the end of a two-year stint as chair of the Arctic Council, a position it will hand over to Iceland next month.

Niinistö has participated in Arctic Council forums, most recently in 2017 in Arkhangelsk, Russia and in 2013 in Salekhard, Russia.