HELSINKI, January 1. /TASS/. Finland wants to continue dialogue and close co-operation with Russia in the future, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in his New Year address on Thursday.

“Russia always was and will be Finland’s neighbour. We will keep maintaining close partnership,” the head of state said.

Meanwhile, he noted that Finland adhered to the EU position over Ukrainian crisis and the status of Crimea as the Russian republic.

“Our goal is to promote any steps to settle the conflict [in Ukraine] and to use all types of co-operation possible under current circumstances,” Niinisto said.

“Russia understands perfectly that Finland is and will remain part of the West,” he added.

In his view, Ukrainian crisis disharmonised relations between the West and Russia and Finland also feels this strain.

“ThIs is vitally needed to find a peaceful variant of conflict settlement for Ukraine and stop a vicious circle of confrontation,” Niinisto noted.