The Foreign Ministers of Finland and Sweden agree on the need for a common approach towards Russia
The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström, and the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Timo Soini, met in Stockholm and discussed, in particular, Russia's proposal to hold consultations on the security of the Baltic Sea region. According to the Ministers, the country was encouraged to follow a united approach regarding the Russian Federation, YLE reports.
Soini was skeptical about holding the bilateral consultations with Russia regarding security issues in the Baltic Sea region. Soini agreed with Wallström that the consultation proposed by the Russian Federation could be carried out in an extended format with the countries of this region.
According to Wallström, these countries should agree to a common approach regarding Russia. She stressed that the position of the EU countries on the anti-Russian sanctions will change only after the Russian Federation proves they are moving in the right direction.
The Foreign Ministers of the two countries assured during the meeting that Finland and Sweden will continue to cooperate on foreign and security policy.