Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze held meetings with State Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Paula Lehtomäki, Under-Secretary of State for European Union Affairs Jori Arvonen as well as General Secretary of the Security Committee of Finland Vesa Valtonen.

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze briefed the State Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office about the progress of implementation of reforms in Ukraine, in particular judicial, anti-corruption, banking and public administration sectors. The interlocutors tackled the country’s GDP performance that demonstrated a 2.2 % growth in 2016 being a signal of gradual economic upturn in Ukraine.

Among other things, the meeting participants considered the escalation of Russia’s aggression in the East of Ukraine, in particular offensive actions and shelling of Avdiyivka.

Moreover, Paula Lehtomäki shared experience of the Finnish authorities in achieving gender equality.

The meeting with Under-Secretary of State for European Union Affairs Jori Arvonen concerned the discussion of setting up in Finland of a center for combating hybrid threats. 16 countries expressed willingness to join the activity of the Center with headquarters in Helsinki. Ukraine has valuable experience which is of interest for Finland.

General Secretary of the Security Committee of Finland Vesa Valtonen informed Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze about the Finnish concept of security and defense, strategic work in this area, as well as mechanisms to respond to crisis situations.