Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said today that purchases of natural gas from Russia should not take place while Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine continue. The comments were delivered during a visit to Kyiv, where Orpo held discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
At a joint press briefing, Zelenskiy said that Ukraine and Finland had explored possible cooperation in a number of areas, including satellite communication, energy and logistics. The leaders described the talks as focused on those sectors, without elaborating further in the briefing.
Finland has already curtailed its direct energy ties with Russia. The country stopped taking Russian pipeline gas in May 2022 after rejecting Russia’s condition that payments be made in roubles. In addition, Finland fully ceased imports of Russian liquefied natural gas in July 2024, a move the government linked to compliance with European Union sanctions.
The prime minister’s remarks underline a continued policy position that limits bilateral gas purchases while military actions by Moscow persist. The statement came as part of a diplomatic engagement in Kyiv rather than as a standalone energy policy announcement, and the public account of the visit highlights discussions on satellite communication, energy and logistics cooperation between the two countries.
Contextual note - The information reported here reflects statements made during the Kyiv visit and Finland’s prior actions on Russian gas imports: cessation of pipeline deliveries in May 2022 after rejecting rouble payment terms, and a complete stop to Russian LNG imports in July 2024 consistent with EU sanctions.
Readouts and next steps - The leaders indicated interest in cooperation in the named sectors, but provided no detailed timelines or implementation plans in their joint statement. The public remarks therefore establish intent for dialogue on satellite communications, energy and logistics without specifying concrete projects or schedules.