Ukraine’s Zelenskiy arrives in Finland to meet Nordic leaders

HELSINKI — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Finland on Wednesday for talks with Nordic leaders on support for his country amid Russia's invasion and on Ukraine's relations with Europe, governments of the region said.

Zelenskiy will hold bilateral talks with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto followed by a news conference before joining a regional summit and a second meeting with media, Niinisto's office said in a statement.

Hundreds of people gathered in central Helsinki to see Zelenskiy arrive, cheering to him as he appeared in front of the presidential palace.

The wider summit will include Niinisto as well as the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

"The theme of the summit is Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the Nordic countries' continued support for Ukraine, Ukraine's relationship with the EU and NATO, and Ukraine's initiative for a just peace," Niinisto's office said.

A spokesperson for Zelenskiy in a statement said the Ukrainian government expected the summit to result in a joint statement.

"The meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and the five countries of Northern Europe is organised for further coordination of military assistance to our state, European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine," the spokesperson wrote.

The Ukrainian president's visit to Finland, one of only a few journeys he has made abroad since Russia's invasion last year, was announced only after his arrival amid tight security in the Finnish capital.

Finland recently joined NATO, becoming its 31st member, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a long border with Russia.

The Kremlin said on April 4 Finland's accession to NATO was a dangerous historic mistake that would weaken security in the wider region and force Moscow to take counter-measures.

Echoing this view, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a briefing on Wednesday: "As we observe NATO's plans for Finland, we confirm that Russia will be forced to retaliate, both militarily and otherwise, in order to curb threats to our national security." — Reuters