Finland is ready to tighten sanctions against the Russian Federation in connection with the aggression against Ukraine, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in an interview with Yle Ykkösaamu.
“Every day people die in Ukraine. We have to make the war stop. We have to be prepared to be flexible in our own daily lives,” she said.
“Finland supports tougher sanctions, including those covering energy policy,” she explained, adding that rising energy prices would not deter sanctions.
“45 days of war is 45 days more than necessary. Russia is waging a dishonorable war, cruel and inhumane, and it must stop,” Marin said.
The Ukrainian national team has gained a victory over Finland as part of the selection match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The match ended with the victory of Ukraine with a score of 2:1.
Earlier it was reported that the Ukrainian national team will play in the selection matches with France, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kazakhstan.
Since Monday, August 9, the Finnish authorities have opened an entrance for tourists from Ukraine, according to an interactive resource of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
“From August 9, 2021, passenger traffic between Finland and Ukraine will be normalized. All citizens of Ukraine [without exceptions] who arrive in Finland on a direct flight from Ukraine, or in transit through countries that are also included in a ‘green list’ of Finland, will be allowed to enter the territory of the country. However, quarantine requirements remain in force,” the message says.
It is specified that, in particular, all persons arriving from any third countries (including Ukraine) and who have completed a full course of vaccination against COVID-19 are exempt from mandatory testing and quarantine, provided that 14 days have passed since inoculation with the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Finland recognizes the following vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer-BionTech), COVID-19 Vaccine Spikevax (formerly Moderna), Vaxzevria (formerly COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca), COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson& Johnson), BnsonIBP Sinopharm COVISHIELD, CoronaVac,” the Foreign Ministry said.
They emphasize that citizens of Ukraine who do not have confirmation of the full course of vaccination while crossing the state border of Finland must provide a certificate confirming the receipt of the first dose of the vaccine, which is recognized by Finland (it is mandatory to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours after arriving in Finland), a certificate confirming a negative result of a PCR test made in Ukraine, which was made no later than 72 hours before crossing the border (in this case, it is mandatory to undergo a PCR test 72 hours after arrival in Finland).
“Without the presence of the above documents or in the presence of confirmation that the person has had COVID-19, citizens of Ukraine will be sent to undergo a PCR test at the border control point. It is mandatory to undergo a PCR test within 72 hours after arriving in Finland,” the ministry said.
The ministry said that taking two PCR tests after arriving in Finland is free for all travelers.
President of Finland Sauli Väinämö Niinistö has assured Ukraine of support in the area of energy sector reforms, in particular renewable ones.
“We are cooperating in the energy sector. We are interested in cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources and, I think, it will be for the benefit of both states. Therefore, we are ready to share our knowledge in this area,” he said at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
He emphasized that Finland had also done a lot of work on forests.
“For the forests not only contribute to the economy, but also improve the life of society,” Niinistö added.
President of Finland Sauli Niinisto will visit Ukraine on September 12-13.
“President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö will make an official visit to Ukraine and will meet President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on 12–13 September 2019. This will be the first meeting of Presidents Niinistö and Zelensky,” the official website of the Finnish president said.
President Niinistö last visited Ukraine in 2014.
President of Ukraine accepted credentials from ambassadors of a number of foreign states: the Republic of Korea – Chang-Kwon Chi, the South African Republic – Andre Johannes Groenewald, the Republic of Slovenia – Tomaz Menzin, the Federal Republic of Germany – Anka Feldhusen, the Republic of Finland – Päivi Maarit Laine. During the conversation with Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine Chang-Kwon Chi, the parties discussed issues of strengthening political dialogue at the highest level between Ukraine and South Korea as well as prospects of trade, economic and investment cooperation, the presidential press service said on Wednesday.
“The issue of introducing a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens was discussed, which would facilitate the development of interpersonal contacts,” it says.
The president invited President of the Republic of Korea Mun Zhe Ying to visit Ukraine.
During the conversation with new Ambassador of the South African Republic to Ukraine Andre Johannes Groenewald, the president of Ukraine emphasized the importance of strengthening political dialogue.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine considers the South African Republic as a prospective partner in Africa and is focused on more intensive cooperation in all spheres.
“Special attention was paid to the discussion of trade and economic cooperation, in particular prospects of Ukrainian-South African business forum which would be held this year,” the message reads.
President of Ukraine spoke out about the establishment of closer and constructive bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of South Africa within the framework of its non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
The president of Ukraine also invited President of the Republic of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to visit Ukraine in the framework of the official visit.
The president thanked Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Ukraine Päivi Maarit Laine for consistent support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as the substantial humanitarian and expert assistance provided by Helsinki to Ukraine at the bilateral level. Particular attention was paid to the practical assistance provided by Finland in implementing systemic reforms, in particular in the field of school education and energy efficiency.
During the conversation with Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Ukraine Tomaz Menzin the president of Ukraine thanked Slove nia for the consistent political support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Zelensky appreciated the assistance of Slovenia in promoting the rehabilitation of 400 children from Ukraine whose parents had died as a result of Russian aggression.
During the conversation with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Anka Feldhusen the head of state thanked the German side for the continued support of Ukraine in countering Russian aggression, as well as substantial financial and technical assistance to facilitate the process of structural reforms in Ukraine.
“During the meeting, the main focus was on discussing the security situation in Donbas and a set of further steps to revitalize the peace process. The importance of continuing international pressure on the Russian Federation to ensure its implementation of the decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was emphasized,” the presidential website says.
President of Ukraine also expressed hopes for the preservation of the traditionally active political dialogue at the highest level in the future.
In addition, the parties discussed the issue of involving German business representatives to work in Ukraine and the creation of joint enterprises.
AMBASSADORS, CREDENTIALS, FINLAND, GERMANY, KOREA, PRESIDENT, SLOVENIA, SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC
