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Talks on Ukraine possible after Russian troop pullout, says Finnish top diplomat

It was also noted that the time of the negotiations is something that Ukraine has to define
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto
© AP Photo/Alex Brandon

BRUSSELS, November 14. /TASS/. Any peace talks on Ukraine may be held only when Russia pulls out its troops from the country’s areas, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto said upon arrival in Brussels for an EU Foreign Ministers meeting on Monday.

"I think this is very good news, of course, that <…> Ukraine has really occupied Kherson or has taken back Kherson, their city. I think the possibility for negotiations comes when Russia withdraws [its troops] from those areas <…>. Finland has, of course, been supporting the United Nations important roles on the grain trade issue and we have been in constant contact with the IAEA on the nuclear safety of the Zaporozhye nuclear power station and, of course, we welcome that the exchange of prisoners has happened, so some part of the negotiations has been ongoing, but I think the final agreements between Ukraine and Russia would be made only when Russia has been withdrawing from the areas," he said.

When asked by a reporter to comment on reports that the US might be pushing Kiev for negotiations, Finland’s top diplomat said, "I think the time of the negotiations is something that Ukraine has to define and I think they have clear goals of taking back those areas that have been occupied by Russia."

One of EU foreign ministers’ main topics is "to discuss the Ukraine situation, how do we continue our strong commitment toward Ukraine and also how do we look at the issue of the war crimes that has to be also addressed," Haavisto said.

Among other things, the EU foreign ministers should finalize the decision to launch the so-called Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine. Under the initiative that should last 24 months and cost €106 million, training camps will be set up in Germany and Poland. The mission will also have to coordinate actions by separate EU countries in training Ukrainian soldiers on a bilateral basis.