Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) made a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday. The official visit was not made public in advance due to security reasons.
Orpo started the day touring modular houses donated by Finland in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin. Many people in Irpin lost their homes during the initial wave of Russian attacks last year.
Orpo praised the construction of temporary housing as an example of the assistance provided by Finland, adding that his government was strongly committed to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
"The people of Ukraine are fighting for their freedom and for our shared values. Ukraine belongs in the West – in the European Union and Nato," Orpo said.
In Kyiv, the Finnish premier held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. At a press conference after the meeting, Zelensky noted that Finnish companies are active in reconstruction.
Orpo also revealed during the press conference that Finland will soon send Ukraine its 18th aid package in the very near future.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Finland has sent 17 packages of defence materiel valuing a total of 1.2 billion euros.
"There is material there that is really needed: heavy weapons and ammunition," Orpo said, commenting on some of the contents of the aid package.
Orpo compared Ukraine's current war against Russia to Finland's winter war, when Russia attacked its smaller Nordic neighbour and then accused the target of the attack of starting the conflict.
"Finland fought as Ukraine is fighting now," Orpo said.
He also reiterated Finland's demand that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
The Finnish PM further noted that Ukraine was an inspiration for Finland and that he was honoured to visit the country. His visit coincided with Ukraine's national flag day, and comes just before Ukrainian Independence Day, which is celebrated on Thursday, 24 August.
Ukraine wants Finnish APCs
Zelensky also raised the issue of possible cooperation in the arms industry, which the two leaders discussed buring their meeting, although no concrete plans have yet been announced.
"We discussed defence industrial cooperation with Zelensky, and last week we saw news that a Swedish company had signed a contract with Ukraine," Orpo said.
Over the weekend, Sweden and Ukraine announced that they had signed a letter of intent for the production and maintenance of Swedish CV-90 armoured personnel carriers (APC) in Ukraine.
"Maybe we have a lot to do. Because we have good high technology and they [the Ukrainians] have a lot of experience, so it's a very useful and good idea," Orpo said, commenting on the potential arms industry cooperation between Finland and Ukraine.
He added that Finland is now looking into more options for future cooperation between Finnish companies and Ukraine.
Zelensky also mentioned at the press briefing that Ukraine is very interested in manufacturing Finnish armoured vehicles in Ukraine. The Ukrainian armed forces already has some Finnish APCs, or Pasis, in service.
A major arms industry meeting will be held in Ukraine in the autumn, where cooperation with the arms industries of different countries will be discussed.
The objectives go beyond the current war. Ukraine's aim is to build a credible defence in the long term, so that Russia would never dare to invade the country again.
"All aid to Ukraine welcome"
Previous visits to Ukraine during the war have included one by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in January.
Sanna Marin (SPD) made two visits to Ukraine during her term as Prime Minister. One last March and the second in May 2022.
President Zelensky visited Finland in May.
During Marin's visit, a major topic of discussion was whether Finland could provide Ukraine with F/A-18 Hornet fighters that are being phased out.
The Hornet issue was also raised at the press conference between Orpo and Zelensky, when the Ukrainian President was asked whether Hornets coming to the end of their service life could be used by his air force.
"If Finland does not need its F-18 fighters, we will gladly accept them," Zelensky said, but added that F-16 fighters are now the main priority for Ukraine.
"I think everyone understands why. Because Ukraine will need a large number of fighters in the future, which our partners will be able to provide, and that is possible with these fighters [F-16s]," Zelenskyi said.
President Niinistö mentioned in a speech to diplomatic and foreign ministry staff earlier this week that it is not in Ukraine's interest to provide so many different types of aircraft. The Hornet issue is, in Niinistö's view, a done deal.
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