Oleksii Kuleba holds meeting with Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development

Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, held a meeting with Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland. The talks were also attended by Deputy Ministers Maryna Denysiuk and Artem Rybchenko.

The parties discussed a broad range of cooperation areas, from protecting critical infrastructure to implementing projects in energy, housing construction, and education.

In particular, they addressed support for the energy resilience of local communities. Oleksii Kuleba emphasised the critical need for modular solutions for backup power and heating, which would enable decentralisation of the system amid ongoing attacks.

Finland has become the first strategic partner in the international Civil Protection Shelter Coalition. This platform brings together financial, technical, and expert resources to create modern protective structures, including dual-purpose facilities.

“Today, shelters are not merely a matter of physical protection; they are a basic condition for a community to function. Without safe spaces, neither full-scale education, nor healthcare, nor the return of people is possible. By becoming the leader of the Shelter Coalition, Finland is setting a new standard of support. For us, it is essential that modern protective structures and dual-purpose facilities appear where they are most needed – in frontline regions. This is an investment in the lives of our people,” Oleksii Kuleba said.

They also discussed the importance of supporting Ukraine in the physical protection of energy facilities, which is coordinated by the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development. The enemy continues to carry out terrorist strikes, changing tactics and the intensity of attacks. Only in cooperation with partners is it possible to build an effective physical protection system.

Special attention was paid to the development of the Finland-Ukraine Investment Facility (FUIF) and various instruments of support for Ukraine, including through World Bank mechanisms. The first projects in the energy sector are currently being prepared for implementation through the Fund.

Oleksii Kuleba thanked Ville Tavio for Finland’s consistent support for Ukraine, noting that the partnership with Finland creates opportunities for the rapid modernisation of life-support systems and the strengthening of the resilience of Ukrainian communities.