President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Finland, Alexander Stubb have signed an Agreement on security cooperation and long-term support.
This came as Zelenskyy met with Stubb in Kyiv.
With this document, Finland formalized its readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, pledged to provide long-term military and financial assistance, and to step up cooperation with our country in the political, financial, humanitarian, and reform areas.
Finland will help Ukraine rebuild its energy sector, assess environmental damage, strengthen border and critical infrastructure protection, and provide medical treatment for Ukrainian soldiers.
In addition, the document contains powerful blocks on sanctions, compensation for damages, and bringing the aggressor to justice.
The agreement also clearly demonstrates Finland’s support for Ukraine’s future membership in the EU and NATO.
Zelenskyy also thanked Alexander Stubb for a new, 23rd aid package to our country worth €188 million.
Thus, the total amount of support provided by Finland since the beginning of the full-scale aggression is close to €2 billion.
“I am grateful for the guarantees of continued military and financial support for our country by Finland. As of now, we have already received €400 million in military aid for 2024. And this amount will increase significantly by the end of this year due to at least two more aid packages.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In addition, Finland is preparing a four-year plan to support Ukraine.
The budget for development and reconstruction is €290 million.
Zelenskyy Hails Finland’s Support
In a press conference with Stubb, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Finland and the entire Finnish people for supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia.
“Ukraine is grateful to Finland that during such a war your country and your entire society did not hesitate to support our defense, the defense of our state and our people,” he said.
Zelenskyy disclosed that he and Stubb discussed defense co-production and experience in security solutions for the construction of shelters.
“We focused on security issues – everything that will save thousands of lives,” he said.
The President of Ukraine emphasized Finland’s principled approach to sanctions against Russia for its aggressive war.
“The greater the restrictions to Russia’s potential for aggression, the more robust the security of all the states neighboring Russia will be,” Zelenskyy asserted.
On his part, President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, noted, “We ourselves should never forget how the path to the EU and NATO was paved. For Ukraine, it means victory.”
“And victory means the defeat of Russia and Putin. And we want to play a role in this,” Stubb added.
Moreso, Zelenskyy noted that work was underway with Finland and many other partners to implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula and prepare for the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland.
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