Finland Times

 

File picture of president Sauli Niinistö. Photo Lehtikuva.

President Sauli Niinistö and the cabinet committee on Foreign and Security Policy on Wednesday said the negotiation Ukraine, Russia, the EU and the United States scheduled for Thursday in Geneva would provide an important opportunity for seeking a common solution and open a dialogue between Ukraine and Russia. 

 

The meeting reviewed the ongoing situation in Ukraine and observed that it was imperative that Ukraine’s independence, unity and territorial integrity were respected.

 

The situation in Ukraine continued to raise concern and tension had mounted in eastern Ukraine, observed the meeting, adding that Finland’s call for an end to the armed occupation of government buildings had not been heeded. 

 

The meeting also noted that the meeting of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, to be held at the beginning of June, would not be organised as a prime ministerial level summit, as was originally planned. 

 

Instead, the meeting was envisaged to be held at the level of ministers of environment. Other meetings, such as the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, would take place, as planned, in connection with the Turku Baltic Sea 2014 event.