🇫🇮 Finland Mentioned

Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen visited New Zealand on Oct. 21 to discuss security issues with officials there. His travel agenda also included Australia and Japan, signaling the Northern European country’s interest in the region despite the geographical distance. In a statement released by the Finnish government ahead of the trip, Häkkänen said: “We are reinforcing our relations with partners in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, we see plenty of opportunities to deepen defense materiel cooperation.” Asked what NATO assets Finland is prepared to host, he replied: “When we joined NATO we were prepared, nationally, to defend ourselves. We have established NATO’s northern Europe’s land headquarters in the Arctic area, on Finnish soil. So we are leading the land defense.” Häkkänen was also asked about Finland’s defense priorities. He replied: “The first one is that Finland, by itself, has to be always, always, ready to defend our own country.” He said Finland has civil shelters for almost 5.5 million people—much of its total population—and added: “The Finnish way to do things is cost-effective, high-quality and win-win.”

Some officials in Europe have criticized Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb for their decision to reach out to the Russian leader. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on Wednesday defended his and Finnish President Alexander Stubb's phone call the day before with Russia's Vladimir Putin, saying it was meant to ensure the Kremlin heard the views of European leaders about ending the war against Ukraine. Both Finland and Norway said their leaders were speaking as representatives of their respective countries and did not speak on behalf of Europe as a whole.

The leaders of Norway and Finland have held a rare call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for an end to the war in Ukraine, ahead of a planned round of United States-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi next month. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Putin for 90 minutes.

Norway's prime minister defended on Wednesday a three-way call with Vladimir Putin and Finland's president, saying it was intended to ensure the Russian leader heard European as well as US views. Tuesday's call between Russia's Putin, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian premier Jonas Gahr Stoere broke a longstanding practice among Western European leaders of shunning direct contact with the Kremlin, and was criticised by allies including Denmark's Mette Frederiksen.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media while he waits for the arrival of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo before their meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, October 22, 2026.

Gina Tran wants a new association in Finland to bring generations of Vietnamese people together and give Finnish residents opportunities to experience Vietnamese culture through the traditional áo dài dress. Tran spoke on behalf of the founders when the Vietnamese Ao Dai Association in Finland launched in Helsinki on 24 October, with support from the Vietnamese Embassy. ScandAsia previously reported on Finland-based Nguyen Thuong Thuy winning a European áo dài title in June.

Finland's and Norway's leaders have phoned Vladimir Putin as Europe seeks a seat at the table. Sasha Vakulina reports on the rare call Finland's Alexander Stubb and Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre held with Vladimir Putin and whether it brings peace talks any closer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin devoted most of a phone conversation with the leaders of Finland and Norway on October 27 to telling them about the “history of the Slavs in the Middle Ages.” Sources familiar with the conversation told the Financial Times.

FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks to the media while he waits for the arrival of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo before their meeting, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, October 22, 2026.

Putin call pits Finland and Norway against Denmark and Sweden.

Russia targets Kyiv as Finnish and Norwegian leaders hold a rare call with Putin.

Finland’s President and Norway’s Prime Minister held a “frank and substantive” discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the Nordic leaders said.

Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre (l) welcomes Finnish president Alexander Stubb during a meeting in Oslo on 20 October 2026. The Finnish-Norwegian call was “not coordinated with any of us [allies]” in advance, said Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday – directly contradicting Finland’s Alexander Stubb and Norway’s Jonas Gahr Støre. “I really don't understand what these two countries think can be achieved this way,” she said. Finland’s president has caused a minor EU diplomatic fiasco by phoning Russian president Vladimir Putin out of the blue. Finland’s Alexander Stubb sat down together with Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Helsinki on Tuesday (27 October) and “initiated” the call to Putin, in what was already a submissive gesture in protocol terms.

Finland's puppy livestream grips millions worldwide.

Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb, and Norway’s prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, held what they described as a “frank and substantive” phone call with Vladimir Putin about efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin is escalating its Star Wars with the West: a Russian satellite may have approached a Finnish-American spacecraft in orbit to within 30 meters.

Finland and Norway held a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin to explore ways to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. HELSINKI – Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister held a “frank and substantive” discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct 27 about efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, where Nordic leaders are meeting, Store said the 90-minute call highlighted “big differences in views” on Ukraine. Stubb confirmed the talks with Zelensky in a social media post and commented: “Finland and Norway will continue to support Ukraine, and the efforts to find a just resolution.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store called Putin from Helsinki on Tuesday to convey messages on future negotiations ahead of the Abu Dhabi meetings, according to a statement from both governments.

Meanwhile, Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, officials said. It was their first known direct contact since shortly after Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022. After their conversation with Putin, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Zelensky’s office.