Zelenskyy arrives in Helsinki on official visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Helsinki on Tuesday afternoon, according to the social media posts of the Presidents of Finland and Ukraine and local media.

Earlier on the day, the Finnish President Office in a press release, however, said that Zelenskyy and Zelenska will pay an official visit to Finland on Wednesday.

“Honoured to welcome Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska to Finland,” President Alexander Stubb wrote in a post on his social media platform X on Tuesday evening.

“Together with the First Lady, I am on an official visit to our friends and principled allies—Finland,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on his X on Tuesday evening.

Meetings will be held with President Alexander Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb, Speaker Jussi Halla-aho and members of Parliament, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, government officials, and representatives of defense companies, said Zelenskyy in his post.

“Key topics include defense support, investment in Ukrainian weapons production, and Ukraine's European integration, the Finnish expertise in developing a civil defense system and constructing shelters, strengthening sanctions against Russia, and coordinating efforts to bring the war to a just end. Europe must be at the negotiating table, and everything related to Europe's security should be decided together with Europe,” the Ukrainian President added.

The formal talks scheduled to be held at the Presidential Palace will focus on Finland’s support for Ukraine and steps to end Russia’s war of aggression, said the press release issued by the Finnish President Office.

At the end of the discussions, the Presidents will hold a joint press conference.

When the talks continue after the press conference, representatives of defence industry companies will also join in.

In the afternoon, the Presidents and their spouses will meet students at the University of Helsinki, and will take part in a discussion session.

During the visit, Suzanne Innes-Stubb and Olena Zelenska will have a separate programme in addition to the joint programme. They will visit a primary school accompanied by Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz. The programme also includes a meeting with the Rector of the University of Helsinki, the President of Tampere University and professors from both universities.

The visit will mean exceptional traffic arrangements in the centre of Helsinki, said police in a press release on Tuesday.

Several motorcades will be moving around the Helsinki Metropolitan Area during the day. The motorcades will cause temporary disruptions to traffic, especially in Helsinki city centre.

The police will carry out aviation operations during the visit and this may cause temporary noise nuisance.

The Market Square will be closed on Wednesday. Likewise, Eteläesplanadi will also be closed to traffic in front of the Market Square. All traffic will be redirected via Aleksanterinkatu.

Suomenlinna ferry traffic will operate from the Suomenlinna service ferry pier in Katajanokka. Access will be blocked to the South Harbour for private water traffic. This block will not apply to cruise traffic from the Olympia Terminal and the Katajanokka Terminal to Tallinn and Stockholm. On Pohjoisranta, access will be blocked in the area south of Halkolaituri.

Public transport will also be affected by the traffic arrangements.

“We recommend not driving in Helsinki city centre on Wednesday. Changes to traffic arrangements will in particular affect Helsinki city centre and the area around the Market Square. Drivers should be prepared for brief traffic disruptions caused by motorcades,” said Chief Inspector Pasi Tuominen of Helsinki Police Department.

Aviation will be restricted for the duration of the visit and a temporary airspace restriction in the area will be in force from Tuesday to Thursday 20 March.