Petteri Orpo, the Prime Minister of Finland, has arrived at the EU summit in Brussels to raise the issue of supporting Ukraine. He emphasized the need for more assistance and called on EU leaders to provide anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition to help Ukraine.
On the first day of the summit, EU leaders strongly condemned Iran’s air attack on Israel and urged all parties to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions in the region. The European Council also indicated its readiness for new sanctions against Iran, targeting unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi also condemned Iran’s attacks on Israel and called for more unity from the West in response to Russia’s aggression. While acknowledging the differences between the situations in Israel and Ukraine, Orpo emphasized the importance of providing adequate support to Ukraine to prevent further destruction.
The second day of the summit will focus on discussions around competitiveness and internal market issues. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has prepared a report on competitiveness, which he will present to the leaders at the summit. Orpo highlighted competitiveness as a top priority and discussed ongoing discussions among EU leaders on this topic.
Before traveling to Lappeenranta with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Orpo mentioned plans to discuss Finland’s strategic goals for its eastern border and develop strategies for enhancing competitiveness within the EU. The visit aims to address these issues and strengthen cooperation among EU member states.
