Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Helsinki for talks with the prime ministers of four Nordic countries as part of his effort to secure greater firepower for his country’s armed forces as they face a relentless Russian invasion.
Zelenskyy met with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on Wednesday and will attend a Nordic-Ukrainian summit with the leaders of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland later in the day. They will discuss the situation of Russia Ukraine war, the Nordic countries continued support for Ukraine, the developments in Ukraine’s relationship with the EU and NATO, and Ukraine’s initiative for a just peace.
The Nordic countries – Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland — have largely rallied around Ukraine following Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. Finland, which shares a border with Russia, became NATO’s 31st member in April. The development marked a major shift in the security landscape in northeastern Europe that added some 1,300 kilometers (830 miles) to the alliance’s frontier with Russia.
Zelenskyy’s visit to Finland comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine.