Office of the President of the Republic of Finland
Press release 3/2021
13 April 2021
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö had a long phone call with President of Russia Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening, 13 April 2021.
The Presidents spoke about the tense situation on the Crimean peninsula and at the border between Russia and Ukraine. President Niinistö expressed his serious concern over an escalation of the situation due to the troop movements and raised the need for dialogue and actions to reduce tensions.
President Putin told about his conversation with US President Biden, and also about the planned meeting of the two presidents.
President Niinistö informed of his initiative to strengthen the 50-year-old Helsinki Spirit in 2025, and it was discussed in a positive tone.
In addition, the prison conditions of Alexei Navalny were discussed.