Sunday December 01, 2024

Cold War return situation concerns President

Published : 08 Apr 2019, 19:56

Updated : 09 Apr 2019, 10:58

DF Report

President Sauli Niinistö was travelling by Allegro train to St. Petersburg on Monday. He will address at the main session of the International Arctic Forum and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Photo by Matti Porre/Office of the President.

President Sauli Niinistö has expressed concern over the crumble of international order and the return of the Cold War situation, local media reported on Monday.

Niinistö travelled to St. Petersburg to attend the International Arctic Forum scheduled for Tuesday.

Speaking to Finnish journalists on a train bound for St. Petersburg, the president revealed that he will ask about the situation in Ukraine, the Kerch Strait incident, and above all what would happen to those prisoners.

Niinistö will deliver a speech at the plenary session of the Arctic Forum, said the Office of the President in a press release.

In addition, the President will have a bilateral meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The ‘Arctic: Territory of Dialogue’ Forum is held now for the fifth time. Its objective is to promote cooperation and sustainable development in the Arctic Region. Theme of this year’s Forum is ‘The Arctic: An Ocean of Opportunities’.

President Niinistö also attended the Forum in Arkhangelsk in 2017 and in Salekhard in 2013. Arctic affairs are also topical in Finland due to the country’s chairmanship of the Arctic Council until May 2019.