Published: 09:36, February 19, 2025 | Updated: 09:50, February 19, 2025
Finland, Sweden stress Europe's interests in US-Russia's Ukraine peace talks
By Xinhua
Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo speaks with the media as he arrives for an EU summit at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, Feb 3, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

HELSINKI - Finnish and Swedish politicians on Tuesday underscored Europe's interests in ongoing peace efforts as the United States and Russia held closed-door talks on ending the war in Ukraine.

The peace settlement for Ukraine should not result in changes to Europe's security architecture, and Europe's interests should be an important part of it, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said at a press conference here.

He emphasized that the outcome of the peace talks will not only affect the whole Europe but also Finland's own security.

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Orpo reaffirmed Finland's full support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for the largest possible support for Ukraine.

Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks with the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Dec 16, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

In Stockholm, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard echoed similar concerns, stressing that nothing can be negotiated without Ukraine, and it is essential that European interests are taken into account in the ongoing peace talks.

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She added that the US-Russia meeting cannot be considered a negotiation, as Ukraine was not involved.

Stenergard warned that the outcome of the talks between the United States and Russia would have long-term implications for European security.

Their statement came after closed-door talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.