On 1 November Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto, who is on a working visit to Ukraine. The visit started with the joint commemoration of defenders of Ukraine from Russian aggression and laying flowers to the Commemoration Wall.

Vadym Prystaiko expressed his conviction that the trip of Foreign Minister Haavisto to the Joint Forces Operation area will help to comprehend the scales of losses of Ukraine and sufferings of the civil population from the ongoing Russian aggression. The Head of the Finnish MFA underlined the intention of Finland, as an EU Presidency, to advocate the need to continue sanctions against Russia and reassured of Finland’s support of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, non-recognition of the attempted illegal annexation of Crimea.

While discussing bilateral cooperation, Vadym Prystaiko highlighted the interestedness of Ukraine in acquiring advanced technologies in energy efficiency, waste procession and forest management. The Minister thanked for Finland’s introduction of energy efficient technologies in a school in the Kherson region and offered to consider the implementation of a similar infrastructure project in the East of Ukraine in the framework of Donbas reconstruction.

From 1 July to 31 December Finland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU.