Office of the President of the Republic
Press Release 51/2015
9 October 2015
President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and President Vladimir Putin of Russia had a telephone conversation on Friday 9 October 2015. The discussion was conducted on Finland’s initiative.
The presidents discussed bilateral relations between Finland and Russia, the Ukraine crisis, Syria and the situation in the Middle East.
President Niinistö confirmed that Finland and Russia would continue to engage in active cooperation, despite the decrease in trade between the two countries. President Niinistö regarded the fact that the ceasefire in Ukraine had largely held and that progress had been made on the Minsk Agreement as highly positive. With regard to Syria, Finland is concerned about increasing tensions and hopes that constructive international cooperation can be achieved in the region, so that progress can be made in bringing the conflict to a peaceful resolution.