Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Ambassador of Finland and all Finnish citizens employed by the Finnish mission in Kyiv left Ukraine for security reasons in February, when Russia started its military aggression against Ukraine. The security situation in Kyiv has now improved, and Finland’s Ambassador to Ukraine Päivi Laine has returned to her post in Kyiv.

EU foreign ministers will convene in Brussels on Monday 16 May. State Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Johanna Sumuvuori will represent Finland at the meeting. The Foreign Affairs Council will focus on Russian aggression against Ukraine and on the Western Balkans.

Portugal's minister of foreign affairs João Gomes Cravinho will visit Finland on Friday 13 May and have a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto. Follow the live webcast of the press conference at 16.10.

NATO ministers of foreign affairs will hold an informal meeting in Berlin on 14–15 May. Finland and Sweden have been invited to a working dinner held in connection with the meeting on 14 May. Finland’s representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.

Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde will visit Finland on Friday 29 April and have a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.

On Wednesday 13 April, the Government adopted a report on changes in the security environment and submitted it to Parliament for consideration. The report assesses fundamental changes in Finland's foreign and security policy environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The report does not include any conclusions or present new security policy guidelines.

The war in Ukraine increases hunger and malnutrition in other parts of the world. Finland allocates EUR 26.1 million to domestic and international organisations for their humanitarian response in countries such as Somalia, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The EU Member States approved further sanctions on 8 April 2022. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a large-scale humanitarian emergency and mass migration. The European Union, together with its close partners, responded to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine by imposing new sanctions. The sanctions adopted on Friday 8 April complement the earlier sanctions package imposed by the EU on Russia’s actions.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday 11 April 2022. The main topics on the agenda will be Russian aggression against Ukraine and the new European strategy ‘Global Gateway’.

In such humanitarian crises as the one in Ukraine, many actors are involved. How is work divided, where are relief items purchased, and how can private individuals help? Moreover, are available humanitarian resources sufficient to meet the needs of those affected by crises? Riikka Mikkola, Senior Adviser for Humanitarian Assistance at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, answers these questions.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Moldova Support Conference and a meeting of Nordic Foreign Ministers and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in Berlin on 5 April.

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly will visit Finland on 4 April and have a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir will visit Finland on 29–30 March and have a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 21 March. One of the main topics on the meeting agenda is Russian aggression against Ukraine. In their joint session, the foreign and defence ministers are also to adopt the Strategic Compass for security and defence cooperation in the EU. After the Foreign Affairs Council, Minister Haavisto will attend the opening session of the European Humanitarian Forum. From Brussels, Minister Haavisto will travel to Malmö, where he will attend the Nordic Council Theme Session on 22 March.

This year marks the eighth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia. Russia has continued to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty by invading Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The invasion is a grave breach of international law and a violation of the Charter of the United Nations. Finland condemns Russia’s actions and strongly supports Ukraine.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a fundamental change has taken place in the security and operating environment of Finland and Europe. The Government has launched the preparation of a report assessing the foreign and security policy environment that has changed and the changing operating and security environment as well as their implications for Finland.

The Member States of the European Union approved new sanctions on Tuesday 15 March.

On 11 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) in Turkey. During the visit, Foreign Minister Haavisto will also have bilateral discussions on the current security situation.

The Member States of the European Union approved new sanctions on Wednesday 9 March.

The first meeting of foreign ministers under Norway's presidency of the Nordic (N5) cooperation on foreign and security policy will be held as a virtual meeting on 8 March. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will represent Finland at the meeting.

Ukraine is Finland’s long-term partner country. Due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Finland grants humanitarian assistance in response to the acute distress and strengthens Ukraine’s sustainability in the midst of the war through development cooperation.

At the meeting, the Ministers will focus on the Ukraine crisis and the rapidly changing security situation in Europe. Follow the live webcast of the press conference at 13.40.

EU development ministers will hold an informal meeting in Montpellier, France, on 7 March 2022. The meeting will focus on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and on the EU’s actions in the current situation. Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will represent Finland at the meeting.

The European Union responded to Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by imposing new sanctions on it. The EU Member States approved further sanctions against Belarus on 2 March 2022. These sanctions complement the sanctions adopted on 24 June 2021.

The Nordic Council of Ministers is suspending its co-operation with Russia and Belarus. This decision has been made in response to Russia’s military attack on Ukraine.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra, who will pay a visit to Helsinki on 7 March. At their meeting, the Ministers will focus on the Ukraine crisis and the rapidly changing security situation in Europe.

On Friday 4 March 2022, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

The Member States of the European Union approved new sanctions on Tuesday 1 March.

On 28 February 2022, the Finnish Government issued the Decree on the implementation of the Decision and Regulation of the Council of the European Union concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine.

The EU Member States approved the sanctions and they entered into force on Monday 28 February.

On the proposal of the Government, the President of the Republic decided today that Finland will increase its aid to Ukraine and also provide military protective equipment to assist the country. The aid is granted under the Act on the Making of Decisions Concerning the Provision of and Request for International Assistance. The Ministry of Defence is the authority responsible for the aid.

The Member States of the European Union approved the sanctions on Friday 25 February and the sanctions have entered into force.

Finland strongly condemns Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. On 24 February, the Government decided to supplement its support to Ukraine by EUR 10 million of new funding.

The EU foreign ministers will convene for an extraordinary meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 25 February to discuss the European security situation.

The Merikasarmi building of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is lit up on Thursday 24 February in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine.

Following Russia’s launch of a military attack in Ukraine, the Ambassador of Finland and all Finnish citizens employed by the Finnish mission in Kyiv have left the country for security reasons.

On Wednesday 23 February, the European Union imposed new sanctions due to Russia’s actions. On Monday 21 February, Russia announced that it had decided to recognise the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Eastern Ukraine. Russia's acts violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russia's actions are a grave breach of its international obligations and commitments, including the Minsk Agreements.

On Tuesday 22 February, based on an overall assessment of the security situation in Ukraine, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided to relocate its staff temporarily from Kyiv to Lviv.

Finland's statement was published the 21 February 2022 on the President's website.

Finland has made a one-off decision on providing Ukraine with EUR 4 million in additional support. Of this figure, EUR 3 million is a development cooperation appropriation and EUR 1 million is humanitarian aid.

Finland’s Embassy in Kyiv is on enhanced readiness and the staff will continue their work at the mission. The Embassy has adapted its activities as required in the current situation, and some of its staff members have been repatriated to Finland.