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Sun, 14 Feb, 2016 12:07:11 AM FTimes – STT Report, Feb 14  (L to R) Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite, Poland's President Andrzej Duda, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and President and Founder of Eurasia Group Ian Bremmer took part in a panel discussion during the second day of the 52nd Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich on Saturday. Photo – AFP / Lehtikuva. President Sauli Niinistö on Saturday said Russia and the West should find progress in their relationship at least through the lowest common denominators.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Niinistö also expressed the hope that many would understand that Russia and the West can no longer afford the deterioration in relations.
“Even if we could agree on which things we cannot agree on; even that would be a step forward,” Niinistö told journalists during a break in the conference.
“From Syria to the North Pole, Russia always seems to be there. And Russia always seems to be somewhere just as bigger problems emerge,” he said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry in his Munich speech on Saturday said prolonging the economic sanctions against Russia would depend on Russia’s actions.
He also expressed the hope that the original reasons for the sanctions would not be forgotten.
Niinistö said his thoughts were along the same lines.
“You have to keep in mind why the sanctions were imposed. The Minsk agreement is still open,” said the Finland president.
The president took part in a panel discussion on Saturday alongside, among others, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.
The president also said he had met with European Parliament President Martin Schulz, American Senator John McCain and Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist.
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