President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen.
On January 1, Finland's one-year chairmanship of the OSCE began. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Elina Valtonen made her first visit in this role to Ukraine, and this is an important symbol of support for our state.
He thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Government, the President, and the people of Finland for supporting Ukraine from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. Finland has provided 26 defense assistance packages totaling over EUR 2.3 billion.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy particularly commended Finland's participation in the first Peace Summit and thematic conferences that followed.
“We count on your leadership and your chairmanship of the OSCE. And I want to discuss with you and your team what the OSCE can do for Ukraine, primarily for our children, for our warriors, for our heroic people who are being held in Russian prisons,” the President said.
During the meeting, the parties discussed preparations for the special expanded meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council dedicated to the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act – the document that established the OSCE. The principles of this Act also form the basis of the Peace Formula and the Victory Plan.
Special attention was paid to the strengthening of sanctions against Russia's shadow fleet, which allows the aggressor state to finance the war. Elina Valtonen also stressed that Russia is using its shadow fleet to undermine the oil price caps, also posing a real threat to the environment.
“As Finland and as the country holding the OSCE Chairmanship, we will do everything we can to achieve a just and sustainable peace for your country. Ukraine will remain a priority for the entire Organization,” she assured.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that she supports the “peace through strength” approach and Ukraine's right to self-defense in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression.