Government Communications Department
Press release 190/2015
9.4.2015
The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the situation in Ukraine at their meeting on 9 April 2015.
The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. Finland stresses the responsibility of the parties to the conflict in implementing the Minsk agreements. Ceasefire violations cause danger especially to the civilian population in the area. Finland supports strengthening of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and has offered new candidates for the mission.
The President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy outlined that Finland will prepare to participate in the standby period of the EU battle group led by the United Kingdom in 2016 with a division of some 50 soldiers.
The meeting was also informed about reports prepared by the Security Committee on the security state of society, the state of cyber preparedness, as well as hybrid threats and national preparedness measures. The Security Committee which started its work in 2013 assists the Government and ministries in matters pertaining to comprehensive security.
Inquiries: Kirsti Kauppi, Director General, tel. +358 295 351 561, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Vesa Vasara, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 295 351 723, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (situation in Ukraine); and Vesa Virtanen, General Secretary, tel. +358 295 140 700, Security Committee.