Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Thursday met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC and discussed various bilateral and international issues.
Rubio appreciated Finland’s contributions to European security, its decision to increase defense spending, and ongoing cooperation on icebreakers, said the US state department in a statement after the meeting.
The US Secretary emphasized President Trump’s resolve to achieve an enduring peace in Ukraine and welcomed Finland’s support in realizing that goal.
“Finland has stepped up to help carry a larger share of the burden of European security and defense at a time when we are encouraging other European allies to do the same,” Rubio wrote in a post on his social media platform X.
Valtonen in a post on her X thanked Rubio for the meeting and a frank discussion on transatlantic relations, the peace process in Ukraine and the containment of the threat Russia is posing with its partners.
After the meeting the Foreign Minister said that the sales of icebreakers are moving forward and a concreate news in this regard is likely to come soon, Finnish media reported.
Talking to US broadcaster CBS news, she said that while US President Trump's call for an end to the war in Ukraine is "exactly right," keeping Russia "at bay," should come "first and foremost."
The best thing to do is help Ukraine defend itself, weaken Russia through sanctions, and increase Europe's defense and deterrence capabilities, the CBS news reported, quoting Valtonen as saying.
- Valtonen
- Rubio
- Meeting
- Washington
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
