Ukraine Wants Cooperation With Finland In Military Sector

Ukraine wants to cooperate with Finland in the defense sector.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this during a joint briefing with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"We are confirming our interest in cooperation in the military sector. We would like to note the effective coordination of our actions and thank Finland for its contribution in the frames of the NATO Trust Fund for the development of the military medicine and rehabilitation of servicemen," said President Poroshenko.

President Petro Poroshenko thanked Finland for its position regarding the extension of the sanctions against Russia until its implementation of the Minsk agreements.

President Poroshenko also expressed readiness to join the activities of the center to counteract hybrid threats in Helsinki, Finland.

He said the Presidents had discussed violations of human rights on the occupied territories of Donbas and the Russia-annexed Crimea.

"I applied to Mr. President with a request to enhance the pressure on the Russian side in the issue of release of Ukrainian hostages both on the occupied territories and from Russian prisons," said Poroshenko.

President Poroshenko thanked Finland for its contribution to activities of the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and aid to internally displaced persons, assistance in the humanitarian process of mine clearing, and for the technical assistance to Ukraine.

According to President Poroshenko, the sides have agreed to step up the work of the intergovernmental commission for trade and economic development.

President Poroshenko invited President Niinisto to visit Ukraine in 2017.

President Niinisto said Finland respected the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and condemned the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

"Both sides have their commitments that must be fulfilled. Finland supports this and if there is something we can do to help implementation of the Minsk agreements, we will do our utmost for this," President Niinisto said.

Following the briefing Presidents Poroshenko and Niinisto told the press that part of American and European sanctions against Russia can be canceled in case of its implementation of the Minsk agreements.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on 24 January 2017, Ukraine and Finland have signed a memorandum to cooperate in energy efficiency, energy saving and use of renewable energy.