Security guarantees for Ukraine: Zelensky invites Finland to start negotiations

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has invited the Republic of Finland to start negotiations on a bilateral document on security guarantees for Ukraine.

The head of the Ukrainian state announced this at a joint briefing with Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Zelensky noted that the Republic of Finland substantially supports global efforts regarding the Ukrainian Peace Formula. He emphasized that at today's meeting he received assurances from Orpo regarding Finland's readiness to join the implementation of the Peace Formula points.

The President of Ukraine said: "I invited Finland to start negotiations on a bilateral document on security guarantees for Ukraine. Finland has already joined the corresponding declaration. Now is the time for a bilateral agreement."

In addition, according to him, during the meeting, the strengthening of common unity in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic space was discussed. Zelensky stressed that Finland supports Ukraine on its path to the European Union and NATO. In this context, he emphasized that Ukraine plans to start negotiations on EU membership this year. "Ukraine will be ready for this," added the head of the Ukrainian state.

As reported, Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo is visiting Ukraine today, August 23.

The NATO summit was held in Vilnius on July 11-12. The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries approved the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. More than 20 countries have already joined the declaration, and the list continues to grow.