US to support efforts to find peaceful way to end Ukraine war: Blinken

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that his country was working with Ukraine and other countries to find out a peaceful way to bring Ukraine war to an end and will support efforts by other countries in this regard.

"We will support efforts – whether by Brazil, China, or any other nation – if they help find a way to a just and lasting peace," Blinken said in a speech at Helsinki City Hall during his visit to Helsinki.

He also criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for the war of aggression in Ukraine and termed that the war has been a strategic failure.

Earlier on the day Blinken met with Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto and thanked the Foreign Minister for continued support to Ukraine and reiterated the long and close relationship the United States shares with Finland.

The two leaders reaffirmed support for Sweden’s NATO accession before the July NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, said the US state department in a release.

Haavisto and Blinken signed a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Advanced Wireless Communications between Finland and the United States, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

In the Joint Statement, Finland and the United States confirmed their common ambition to cooperate in key areas of 6G research and development and to increase interaction between Finnish and US actors.

6G will represent a major transformation from the preceding generations of wireless communication technologies. Characteristic for this sector is the close interaction between scientific research, standardisation and commercialisation.

“Having a common set of values and achieving sustainable development goals in both bilateral and multilateral forums are important elements of 6G development. It is excellent that Finland and the United States can promote these important goals together as partners,” said Haavisto.

Finland is a pioneer of 6G development. In 2018, Finland was the first country to launch an extensive 6G research programme. Finnish expertise in 6G will create new opportunities both commercially and politically. Close international cooperation is needed to make the most of it.

The US Secretary of State also met with Prime Minister Sanna Marin and discussed the strong bilateral U.S.-Finnish cooperation in addressing global challenges, NATO accession, and the Arctic.

Blinken thanked Marin for Finland’s continued support to Ukraine, as well as for her leadership during a pivotal period, and underscored the long and close relationship the United States has with Finland.