Finland's President Arrives in Kyiv to Discuss Leopard 2 Tanks

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced this on his Telegram with a video of the meeting with his Finnish colleague.

"I welcome President of Finland Sauli Niinistö to Ukraine. Ukraine appreciates the support of Finland and the Finnish people. Thank you for this visit!" Zelenskyy wrote.

As Finnish television and radio company Yle reports, Niinistö's visit was not pre-spread for security reasons. Such meetings, as noted, pose a security threat primarily to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose administration Russia is trying to remove from power.

In the afternoon, Niinistö met with Zelenskyy. The Presidents discussed military assistance from Finland and political support to Ukraine. According to Niinistö, the question of handing tanks to Ukraine remains open.

"We are the only country outside NATO that has Leopards. We also have a long border with Russia, and this must be taken into account," Niinistö said during a press conference.

According to Niinistö, there are different roles in providing assistance to Ukraine, and Finland is actively involved. To date, Finland has allocated Ukraine 600 million euros in military assistance.

The day before, Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Finland had yet to determine its position as to whether it will join the coalition that plans to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine in one way or another.

In the morning, Sauli Niinistö visited Borodianka and Bucha, which Russia destroyed.

In Borodianka, Niinisto discussed the reconstruction and temporary housing that Finland already provided to Ukraine.

"It reminds me of my childhood. I used to live on a street where houses were called Swedish because Sweden donated them to Finland after World War II," Niinisto told the accompanying group.

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