President Stubb visits Ukraine

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 19/2024
3 April 2024

President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb is visiting Ukraine. He met President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Wednesday 3 April 2024. With the visit, Finland shows its strong and continued support for Ukraine.

In their meeting, the Presidents discussed, among other things, the current situation of the war of aggression that Russia launched more than two years ago, Finland’s support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace.

At the end of the meeting, the Presidents signed an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support between Finland and Ukraine. The 10-year agreement is a token of Finland’s long-term commitment to supporting Ukraine. It covers various sectors, including political support, support for Ukrainian defence and security, and support for reforming and reconstructing Ukraine.

In connection with the NATO summit last summer, the Nordic Countries issued a joint statement, declaring their commitment to supporting Ukraine and its security in the long term based on the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine issued earlier. Finland is the eighth country to sign a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine.

In Kyiv, President Stubb also announced Finland’s decision to send its 23rd package of defence materiel to Ukraine, worth EUR 188 million.

President Stubb’s programme began with a visit to Hostomel airport, where Ukraine achieved significant combat success at the early stages of the war of aggression. The President met soldiers who had defended Hostomel airport. The programme also included a wreath-laying ceremony in the memory of the fallen Ukrainian soldiers at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv.

The programme of the visit also includes other meetings.

One of the members of President Stubb’s delegation is Speaker of the Parliament of Finland Jussi Halla-aho.

The previous presidential visit from Finland to Ukraine was made by President Sauli Niinistö in January 2023.

• Agreement on security cooperation and long-term support between the Republic of Finland and Ukraine
• Ministry of Defence's press release: Finland to send more defence materiel to Ukraine