Finland

A three-day strike of civil servants, including the police, has been ongoing in Finland since April 22. Police stations in several regions are closed, and applications will only be accepted online.

The Ministry of Defense received a batch of equipment from the IT coalition, funded by Luxembourg and Iceland, worth almost 2 million euros. The delivery included access points, routers, charging stations and telephones.

Since 2021, Finland has classified arms exports, issuing 19 licenses to 8 countries. Ukraine is the most frequent destination for secret supplies, Israel requested non-disclosure.

The shipyard in Rauma is negotiating with the United States on the construction of up to five medium-capacity icebreakers, as well as three large icebreakers. The total cost could reach over €2.5 billion.

The State Food and Consumer Service of Lviv region discovered ochratoxin A in Gerber baby puree, produced by Suomen Nestle Oy. The product has been withdrawn from circulation for further destruction.

Finland has decided to keep its land border with Russia closed indefinitely, citing security considerations. This is a continuation of a policy that began in 2023 amid accusations that Russia was facilitating illegal immigration.

Zelenskyy announced the preparation of a new security architecture and new support packages from partners. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready for political decisions.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb spoke with Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the situation in Ukraine, including the front. The leaders discussed further steps to achieve a just peace.

European Commission employees traveling to the United States are being issued disposable phones and basic laptops due to concerns about espionage, including from American intelligence agencies. This underscores the deteriorating relationship between the EU and the US.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that Russia respects neither international nor humanitarian law. He called for a ceasefire and stronger sanctions against the aggressor country.

The President of Ukraine strongly condemned the Russian strike on Sumy, which killed 34 people and injured 117. The ballistic missile strike hit the city center on Palm Sunday.

The Finnish Parliament has unanimously approved the government's proposal to completely ban Russians from buying real estate. This decision aims to strengthen the country's national security.

There are up to 50 sites in Ukraine for the storage of demolition waste caused by Russian aggression.

A Russian commander kidnapped a woman in the Mykolaiv region, forced her to walk through a mined area and threatened arson. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for war crimes.

The Pentagon is considering withdrawing up to 10,000 troops from Eastern Europe. This raises concerns that the US is abandoning allies amid the threat from the Russian Federation.

Oleksandr Nechytailo became the ambassador to China, and Andriy Melnyk became the representative to the UN. There were also changes in the embassies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and others.

The State Tax Service of Ukraine and Finland have signed a memorandum of understanding on technical assistance. The aim of the project is to increase trust in the Ukrainian tax service.

The German Ministry of Internal Affairs supported the idea of preparing young people for crisis situations and advises Germans to stock up on food, water and essential items.

The Finnish Minister of Defense called on NATO to have a clear action plan in case of the withdrawal of US troops from Europe, in order to avoid a window of opportunity for Russian aggression. He emphasized coordination with EU initiatives.

Finland is strengthening security in the Baltic Sea due to an increase in suspicious incidents related to Russian sabotage. Since 2023, 11 underwater cables have been damaged.

British military found hidden Russian sensors in the seas around Britain. They were probably used to spy on nuclear submarines.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the US ambassador for the weak reaction to the Russian attack on Kryvyi Rih. He thanked other countries for their support and called for increased sanctions.

Emmanuel Macron may take on the role of mediator between Europe and Vladimir Putin for negotiations on peace in Ukraine. He is ready to resume contact with the Kremlin when the time is right.

The Finnish President stated that a European leader should address Russia. France or Great Britain, which have the means to do so, are being considered.

Norway does not plan to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention and criticizes Finland for its intention to do so. Norway has a modern defense system, so it is not concerned about changes.

Finland intends to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Mines in order to respond flexibly to changes in the security sphere. The country also plans to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2029.

Representatives of parliaments from 17 EU countries and MEPs arrived in Kyiv. The visit is a symbol of support, solidarity and trust in Ukraine.

Finnish President Stubb suggested that Trump set April 20 as the date for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine. Sanctions against the Russian Federation are needed to maintain the truce.

Zelenskyy and Stubb discussed steps to achieve peace and pressure on Russia after Stubb's meeting with Trump. Zelenskyy reported on Russian strikes on Kharkiv.

The United States is ready to impose sanctions against Russia if it does not adhere to the ceasefire. This was stated by Finnish President Alexander Stubb after meeting with Donald Trump.