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Finnish leader asks for EU measures on arrival of migrants via Russia
The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, has asked for EU assistance when it comes to the influx of migrants via Russia and the economic impact of border closures on eastern Finland.
Speaking alongside the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, Orpo said:
“We visited with madame president the border and we described what kind of situation is – and now we have to find common solutions to stop this phenomenon when Russia used illegal immigrants against us. We are preparing our own legislation but we also need EU-level measures,” he said.
“I’m very thankful that the Commission, the European Union, the other member states, have supported us – and Ursula, you especially supported us, at the beginning of this phenomenon.”
He added that eastern Finland has suffered due to Russia’s behaviour and the closure of the border.
“What we need is that European Union have to help eastern Finland and areas suffering because of Russian behaviour … our wish is that European Union have to build a new instrument to fund eastern Finland and the areas suffering.”
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2 detained on suspicion of attacking Navalny aide
Two people have been detained in Poland on suspicion of attacking Leonid Volkov, an aide to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters today, Reuters reported.
Ukraine said it shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time today, Reuters reported.
The Russian defence ministry said the strategic bomber had crashed in Russia’s Stavropol region.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said Kyiv had “destroyed” the warplane.
“For the first time, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, in cooperation with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber, a carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles used by Russian terrorists to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities,” he said.
Nine killed in Russian strikes in Dnipropetrovsk region
Nine people were killed in Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrinform reported citing the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office.
“A child who was seriously injured during today’s massive enemy attack on the Dnipropetrovsk died in the hospital. So far, the death toll has increased to nine, including three children,” the prosecutor general’s office said.
“Rescue operations are underway in Dnipro following a Russian strike,” Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this morning.
“Several floors of a typical residential building were destroyed, and the railway station sustained damage. Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove in the Dnipropetrovsk region were also targeted.
Rescue operations are underway in Dnipro following a Russian strike. Several floors of a typical residential building were destroyed, and the railway station sustained damage.
Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove in the Dnipropetrovsk region were also targeted. All injured people are… pic.twitter.com/t0zX4TwJhY
'The European Union is there to support you', Commission president tells Finns
Speaking of the instrumentalisation of migration by Russia, Ursula von der Leyen said “now Putin is focusing on Finland.”
“Finland has acted decisively and successfully to counter this threat. This is not just about the security of Finland, but it is about the security of the European Union. We are in this together,” she said.
“I’m here to tell you that the European Union is there to support you in your efforts,” the Commission president stressed.
Very glad to be here with you, dear @PetteriOrpo, in Lappeeranta, to visit the Finnish border and assess the situation.
We live in tense times and stand side-by-side to ensure the security of the EU’s external borders against hybrid threats. pic.twitter.com/b9zMliF0nO
'We should be more Finnish when it comes to security,' von der Leyen says
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said during a visit to Finland today that “today’s visit to the border crossing point was very insightful for me.”
“We should be more Finnish when it comes to security. We have a lot to learn from Finland, and from the model of Finnish preparedness,” von der Leyen said.
Finnish leader asks for EU measures on arrival of migrants via Russia
The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, has asked for EU assistance when it comes to the influx of migrants via Russia and the economic impact of border closures on eastern Finland.
Speaking alongside the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, Orpo said:
“We visited with madame president the border and we described what kind of situation is – and now we have to find common solutions to stop this phenomenon when Russia used illegal immigrants against us. We are preparing our own legislation but we also need EU-level measures,” he said.
“I’m very thankful that the Commission, the European Union, the other member states, have supported us – and Ursula, you especially supported us, at the beginning of this phenomenon.”
He added that eastern Finland has suffered due to Russia’s behaviour and the closure of the border.
“What we need is that European Union have to help eastern Finland and areas suffering because of Russian behaviour … our wish is that European Union have to build a new instrument to fund eastern Finland and the areas suffering.”
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