Finnish president denies military cooperation agreement with Ukraine

Finnish president denies military cooperation agreement with Ukraine

RUNDALE (LATVIA), Sept. 13, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Sauli Niinisto arrives for the summit of the presidents of 13 European Union member states in Rundale, Latvia, Sept. 13, 2018. A two-day summit of the presidents of 13 European Union member states, who form the so-called Arraiolos group, kicked off in Latvia on Thursday. (Xinhua/Janis/IANS)

Helsinki, Sep 14 (IANS) Finnish President Sauli Niinisto denied that Finland and Ukraine had agreed on increasing the military cooperation during a press conference aired by Finnish national television.

International media on Thursday quoted the Ukrainian Presidential website as saying that military cooperation had been agreed during Niinisto's two-day visit to Ukraine.

Asked on Friday to comment on the reference to military cooperation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Niinisto said that Ukraine two years ago made suggestions about military cooperation, but there had been "no progress" on the matter, Xinhua news agency reported.

Niinisto said the statement by Zelensky had remained "open" to him.

Discussing the Minsk agreements, Niinisto said they are tools and include everything required to end the conflict.

--IANS

rt/