Finnish President Sauli Niinisto plans to discuss Russia’s future participation in the activities of the Council of Europe with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at their St. Petersburg meeting on April 9, as he himself said in an interview with TASS before departing for Russia to attend the International Arctic Forum.
“Every time we meet, and this time as well, we will definitely discuss pressing bilateral and global issues. In particular, I would like to discuss the Arctic. At the same time, it would be good to discuss the situation in the Council of Europe which we [Finland] are chairing now and we would like Russia to remain a member,” Niinisto pointed out.
He added that he planned to touch upon the situation in eastern Ukraine and once again highlight the importance of achieving a ceasefire. In addition, “the agenda will also involve relations between big powers and the situation in Syria,” the Finnish president noted.
According to him, there will also be a discussion of economic and environment cooperation.