Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visits Kyiv and meets Zelensky; Finland announces €2 million in humanitarian aid
Finland's government said the visit was meant to show its support for Ukraine as the country prepares for winter. Finland's Foreign Ministry announced €2 million in humanitarian aid, and a ballistic missile alert was issued in Kyiv during the visit.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visited Kyiv on Thursday 22 October and met President Volodymyr Zelensky, Finnish media reported. “The main purpose of the visit is to show Finland’s strong support for Ukraine as the war of aggression continues and the country prepares for the winter,” the Finnish government said, according to the Kyiv Independent. The government said Orpo would also “show support for the reforms needed for Ukraine’s EU membership”.
Finland’s Foreign Ministry announced €2 million in humanitarian aid for Ukraine, including for winter preparations, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv during the day while Orpo was in the capital, the Kyiv Independent reported. Orpo visited a school damaged by a Russian drone during an attack earlier in October, the Finnish newspaper Keskisuomalainen reported.
The visit came a day after US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, and two days after Witkoff met Zelensky and European officials in Oslo. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said he would be ready to represent Europe in peace talks if asked.
Sources
- Finnish PM visits Kyiv as Russia steps up attacks despite peace push · The Kyiv Independent
- Orpo vieraili koetellussa Kiovassa ja tapasi Zelenskyin · Suomenmaa
- PM Petteri Orpo in Ukraine to show Finland's 'strong support' · Yle News
Related coverage
All world news →
After Oslo talks, Zelensky says Ukraine backs US energy ceasefire proposal; Witkoff to take ideas to Russia
Volodymyr Zelensky met US envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo with Norway's prime minister and Finland's president. Zelensky said Ukraine is ready for negotiations and proposed a trilateral leaders' meeting; Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre said Witkoff would fly to St Petersburg on Wednesday.
Witkoff heads to Oslo for Ukraine talks with Zelensky and European officials, then plans to meet Putin in Russia
A US official said White House envoy Steve Witkoff would hold talks in Oslo on Tuesday with Volodymyr Zelensky, Norway's prime minister and European, EU and NATO officials on a peace proposal for Russia, and then travel to Russia hoping to meet Vladimir Putin.
Russian military satellite makes close approach to Finnish-built radar satellite, trackers say
Space-tracking firm LeoLabs said Cosmos 2612's movement appeared to be a deliberate approach toward ICEYE-X36. Trackers said the two passed within a few hundred metres or less on Sunday and that Cosmos 2612 has since moved away. Russia has not commented.
Zelensky offers 30-day halt to strikes on Russian refineries in exchange for US Patriot interceptors, says 'political decision' slowing support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told a bipartisan US congressional delegation on Monday that Kyiv could stop hitting Russian oil refineries for 30 days if Washington helped defend Ukraine's skies with Patriot interceptors for the same period. He said Ukraine had heard no willingness to accept the idea.
Russian drone strike on Kharkiv region park kills six, including three children; Zelensky says partners gave no warning of overnight missile attack
A drone hit a park in Nova Vodolaha on Monday afternoon, Ukrainian officials said, hours after Russia fired 16 ballistic missiles and more than 200 drones at Ukraine overnight. President Volodymyr Zelensky said 28 energy facilities were hit and that partners again gave no early warning. Russia said it struck defence sites in and around Kyiv.
Zelensky tells Bloomberg US steps look aimed at pushing Ukraine to capitulate; offers refinery-strike halt for Patriot missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Bloomberg interview in Kyiv on Sunday that "steps have been taken to convince Ukraine to capitulate", citing Starlink limits and delayed Patriot deliveries. He proposed stopping strikes on Russian diesel facilities in exchange for more Patriot interceptors.
