President of Finland: Ukraine should be helped to fulfill NATO membership conditions

On Wednesday, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said at the NATO summit in Vilnius that his country's goal should be to help Ukraine fulfill the Alliance's accession requirements.

That's according to Yle, Ukrinform reports.

"I have made it clear that the goal now should be to assist and help Ukraine in every way possible to meet the criteria set by the Alliance," Niinistö said, adding that the realization of this goal would require a "flexible approach."

The Finnish leader emphasized that NATO must "adapt to a new framework" due to the unstable security situation in Europe. He added that Finland "has an important role to play in this."

Niinistö also pointed out that member states should spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, calling the amount of spending a "minimum target."

As Ukrinform reported earlier, a two-day NATO summit is taking place in Vilnius on July 11-12, with the main topics being strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defense system and continuing to help Ukraine.

Today, the Group of Seven countries will announce a plan to provide long-term military assistance to Ukraine, which will show Russia that "time is not on its side."

Photo: Lehtikuva / Handout / Matti Porre