On the invitation of Pekka Niiranen, Chairman of the Board of Welfare of the City of Kuopio, Ambassador of Ukraine to Finland A.Olefirov visited Kuopio on January 27. During the visit A.Olefirov presented to the members of the UKK and Paasikivi Society and the Defence Association his view on the situation in Ukraine, perspectives of Ukrainian-Finish bilateral relations. The following discussion demonstrated interest and sympathy to Ukraine due to, among other things, similarity of events in historical development of Ukraine and Finland.
Ambassador of Ukraine gave interview to local media.

For reference: Kuopio is a city located in the region of Northern Savonia, the eighth biggest city in the country. Kuopio has always been a city of education, the University of Eastern Finland, the Savonia University of Applied Sciences, HUMAK University of Applied Sciences are situated in Kuopio. Martti Ahtisaari the tenth President of Finland (1994 – 2000), Nobel Peace Prize laureate lived in Kuopio.