Two Finnish government ministers visited Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday to see how Finland's donations of humanitarian and defence aid are being utilised on the ground.
Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari (SDP) and Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen (Green) were also scheduled to meet with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister of Energy, Minister of Internal Affairs as well as the Mayor of Kyiv, according to a statement by the Finnish foreign affairs ministry.
"The visit reaffirms Finland’s firm support to Ukraine. Finland supported Ukraine with approximately 330 million euros in 2022. Among the topics of the ministers’ meetings in Kyiv are Ukraine’s need for support, including preparations for reconstruction," the press release noted.
The ministers' visit will include a viewing of temporary family homes Finland has donated to Ukraine, and minister Mikkonen will also attend the handing over of armoured mobile accommodation facilities Finland has also donated.
The homes are designed for temporary and winter use, and will house at least 200 Ukrainian rescue personnel who are "working in challenging conditions", the ministry's statement said.
“The family homes Finland donated to Ukraine are a concrete example of how we can use Finnish knowledge and expertise to help Ukrainians who have lost their homes. We will continue to support Ukraine through development cooperation and humanitarian assistance," Skinnari said.
Finland announced over the weekend that preparations are underway for delivery of a new shipment of defence equipment to Ukraine, the twelfth such package sent by Finland since Russia's attack in February.
"Finland supports Ukraine. We are preparing the 12th aid package. Decisions will be made in the coming weeks. The content of the support is being prepared together with the Defence Forces, ensuring that we do not weaken our own defence capability," interim Minister of Defence Mikko Savola (Cen) said on Saturday.