The Finnish minister noted that negotiations should be postponed while Russia continues the aggressive military operations in Ukraine.
“It is obvious that the United States is negotiating with Russia, and at some point Europe will also enter into a dialogue. However, it is more important not when and who will say, but what we strive to achieve with the help of such a conversation,” Valtonen said. According to her, the news about the hit of the ballistic missile into the civilian object in Krivoy Rog, which led to the death of children, indicates that the conversation should be postponed.
Valtonen added that Finland hopes for good neighborly relations with the Russian Federation, but this time has not yet come. It all depends on when Russia begins to demonstrate a desire to return to the international contract system, she emphasized. According to the head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, until this happens, it will be premature to talk about the normalization of relations.
“It is necessary to continue our strategy: to support Ukraine, weaken Russia with sanctions and strengthen its own defense,” Valtonen said.
Context
The last, 28th military aid package, Finland provided Ukraine in March, its cost is € 200 million. Together with the planned decisions, the total support of Ukraine Finland will reach € 3.3 billion, the Finland Ministry of Defense said.
