Discussion on fighter jets transfer abroad ´now irrelevant´: Kaikkonen

Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said the discussion about the possible transfer of Finnish fighter jets abroad is "currently irrelevant", reported Xinhua, quoting Uutissuomalainen, a joint news service on Tuesday.

Kaikkonen said this when interviewed by the news service on Ukraine's call for negotiations on handing over F/A-18 Hornet fighters to Ukraine.

"The fighter jets will be used by our defense forces for the coming years, after which their life cycle will end," Kaikkonen was quoted as saying.

He said that Finland had responded to Ukraine's request last week.

The issue became public when Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in early March.

During their meeting, Marin told Zelensky that it should be possible to discuss the handover of the fighter jets.

However, both President Sauli Niinistö and the defense minister said they were not aware of the matter in advance.

Soon after, Ukraine officially asked Finland for the possible transfer of the jets.

Later, Prime Minister Sanna Marin on March 13 clarified her comment saying that no one has promised Hornet fighters to Ukraine.