Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva held an online conversation with Tuomas Tikkanen, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Finland in EU Affairs.
Ihor Zhovkva congratulated the interlocutor on his appointment and thanked the new Finnish government for reflecting in its program the intention to continue providing comprehensive assistance to our country.
The Deputy Head of the Presidential Office noted Finland's significant political and practical support for Ukraine throughout the entire period of Russia's full-scale war against our country, including 17 defense aid packages and the provision of temporary shelter to more than 60 thousand Ukrainians.
The parties paid special attention to the security situation in Ukraine and the region. In this context, they discussed the concept of providing security guarantees to our country.
"We appreciate Finland's accession to the Joint Declaration of the G7 leaders on support for Ukraine and the provision of security guarantees to our country. Ukraine needs them already today. It is important that the security guarantees are in effect until Ukraine becomes a full member of NATO," emphasized Ihor Zhovkva.
Support for Ukraine's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic community is an integral element of security guarantees for our country and a guarantee of security in the region.
"We are grateful to the Government of Finland for its strong practical and political support for Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO, which is also reflected in the new government's program. Our country is successfully moving towards fulfilling its part of the homework on integration into both organizations. We expect a final positive assessment of Ukraine's implementation of the seven recommendations of the European Commission. We count on Finland's support for the European Council's decision to launch membership negotiations with Ukraine at the end of this year," the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office said.
The parties also exchanged views on the results of the recent NATO Summit in Vilnius. Ihor Zhovkva congratulated Finland on its inaugural participation in the NATO Summit as a full-fledged 31st member and expressed hope that Ukraine's fruitful work with its allies would be reflected in the invitation to Ukraine to become the 33rd member of the Organization in the near future.
The interlocutors focused on the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and exchanged views on the modalities of Finland's participation in its practical implementation, as well as in the Global Peace Summit.
In addition, the schedule of high-level contacts for the near future was coordinated.