Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Helsinki on Wednesday to attend a meeting of Nordic Prime Ministers hosted by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
Zelensky has made only a handful of trips abroad since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 — to the United States, Belgium, Poland, France, the United Kingdom, and now Finland.
The meeting in Helsinki of premiers from the Nordic countries was announced by the Office of the Finnish President last week, but Zelensky's attendance was kept under wraps for security reasons.
"When we are strengthening our lines of defence, when we are restoring our borders, we are strengthening the borders of all our partners, including of course Finland. The old capital of the aggressor state is within several hundred kilometers from here, from Helsinki, but due to our joint security efforts, your historic winter fight for freedom and our brave fight now, the aggressor will never make its way to Helsinki," Zelensky said at a press conference following his initial meeting with Niinistö.
You can watch President Zelensky's arrival in Helsinki as well as the press conference held by President Zelensky and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö from the link below.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, the Office of the President said the two leaders will discuss "Ukraine’s defence struggle and Finland’s support for Ukraine, bilateral relations between the two countries and the global geopolitical situation."
Zelensky also planned to attend the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit on Wednesday afternoon. Also present will be the Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, Norway's PM Jonas Gahr Støre, PM Mette Frederiksen from Denmark and Icelandic PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
The press statement added that Zelensky will attend a working lunch with outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green), as well as meeting Finland's Prime Minister-designate Petteri Orpo (NCP).
Foreign policy specialist: Zelensky visit "significant"
Henri Vanhanen of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) told commercial broadcaster MTV that Zelensky's visit was "significant".
Zelensky has said repeatedly that Ukraine needs more weapons as the country prepares to launch a counter-attack against the Russian invasion. In an interview with Yle last week, he raised the possibility that Finland might send old Hornet jets to Ukraine after they are decommissioned.
Wednesday's meeting will offer Zelensky an opportunity to appeal directly to the leaders of each of the Nordic countries.
Vanhanen's FIIA colleague Charly Salonius-Pasternak wrote on Twitter that Zelensky's visit to Helsinki would be a "perfect moment" for the Nordic countries to provide Ukraine with fighter jets ahead of a planned late-spring counter-offensive.
Security tight in capital
Helsinki police had previously warned that motorists should expect traffic congestion around the centre of the capital on Wednesday, due to the summit of Nordic PMs.
In a tweet sent shortly after official confirmation of Zelensky's arrival, the department said it was working to ensure security around the visit as well as that of the Nordic Prime Ministers.
This article is being updated
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