Prime Minister Sanna Marin (the SDP) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a video call on Tuesday. President Sauli Niinistö had a phone discussion with the secretary general on Monday.
During the call with NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister Sanna Marin, according to the government’s communications department, discussed “Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and possibilities for finding a path to peace.” “They also stressed the importance of giving strong support to Ukraine in all possible ways,” the communications department added.
Stoltenberg and Marin discussed the possible consequences of Russia’s invasion over the short and long term. Marin asked Stoltenberg about NATO’s decisions to strengthen the deterrence and collective defense of the alliance and thanked him for the support for Finland’s NATO cooperation.
“Marin told Stoltenberg about the ongoing work to draw up a report on the current security environment, in connection with which Parliament will also discuss the security policy environment and ways to strengthen Finland’s security,” the communications department noted.
Marin and Stoltenberg also paid attention to the importance of NATO’s continued open doors policy and exchanged views on the principles and procedures related to it.
In their discussion, Marin and Stoltenberg highlighted the role of EU-NATO cooperation “and the great value of transatlantic unity.”
Stoltenberg and Marin agreed to remain in contact regarding these themes.
Earlier in the week on Monday, President Sauli Niinistö and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed Russia’s attack on Ukraine and exchanged views on the prospects of a ceasefire, of a negotiated solution and of an end to the war, the president’s office noted.
The president and the secretary general also talked about the development of the relationship between Finland and NATO.
“For this purpose, during yesterday’s discussion with Secretary General Stoltenberg we went thoroughly through the principles of NATO and the procedures when accepting new members,” President Niinistö tweeted later.
