Strengthening Ukraine’s municipal level to improve ability to defend territory – Finland’s ambassador

Strengthening the municipal level of Ukraine will improve the development of the state and the ability to defend territorial integrity, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Ukraine Päivi Laine has said.

She said this during an online forum entitled "Solidarity of Mayors of EU and Ukraine: Community Management in a Pandemic", organized by the U-LEAD with Europe programme, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Today's topic emphasizes the importance of partnership in terms of supporting Ukraine's development. The stronger the municipal government is, the better Ukraine lives and the better it can defend itself," she said.

The ambassador stressed that Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s border and in occupied Crimea increases the importance of Ukraine's relations with international partners.

"It is absolutely clear that the use of a military threat as a tool of foreign policy is unacceptable," Päivi Laine added.

She noted that Finland supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and is working to develop cooperation between the cities of the two countries.

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