Summary:
President Sauli Niinistö met with Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov in Helsinki on 12 September. Mr Ryabkov thanked Finland for its constructive input in issued related to safety in the Baltic Sea region. Mr Ryabkov was in Finland to meet with US under secretary of state Thomas Shannon. Diplomat Jukka Valtasaari estimates that the negotiations between Mr Shannon and Mr Ryabkov are part of standard diplomatic dealings and negotiations which is why no details of the discussions were offered to the public. Mr Valtasaari estimates that Finland’s role in the negotiations comes from tradition. During and at the end of the cold war several negotiations between the superpowers happened in Finland.

Media:  Aamulehti (E-edition, PDF)
Date: 13.9.2017
Journalist: Ida Roivainen
Main source: diplomat Jukka Valtasaari