Finland's popular foreign minister announces bid to run in 2024 presidential election

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s popular outgoing foreign minister, who was one of the key negotiators of his country’s recent membership in NATO, said Thursday he will run as a candidate in the presidential election early next year. Veteran politician Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s top...

Companies are finding it's not so simple to leave Russia. Some are quietly staying put

When Russia invaded Ukraine, global companies were quick to respond, some announcing they would get out of Russia immediately, others curtailing imports or new investment. Billions of dollars' worth of factories, energy holdings and power plants were written off or put up for sale, accompanied by...

Russia freezes bank accounts of Finland's diplomatic missions, prompting cash payments

HELSINKI (AP) — Russia has frozen the bank accounts of Finland’s diplomatic representations in Moscow and St. Petersburg, disrupting money flow and forcing the Nordic country's missions to resort to cash payments, the Finnish foreign minister said Wednesday. Pekka Haavisto said...

Ukraine's Zelenskyy in Finland for summit of Nordic leaders

HELSINKI (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, for a one-day Nordic summit. Zelenskyy is expected to meet with four Nordic prime ministers who are gathering at the residency of the Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on Wednesday. They...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, for a one-day Nordic summit

Heads of state, top diplomats visit Ukraine to show support

ODESA, Ukraine (AP) — Two heads of state and seven foreign ministers from a group of Ukraine's European backers visited the war-torn country Friday to express support for Kyiv in its defense against Russia's invasion. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, hosting his...

Finnish center-right to start coalition talks with far-right

HELSINKI (AP) — The head of Finland's conservative National Coalition Party, which came first in April 2 elections, said Thursday he would start talks to form a center-right coalition government that would see power-sharing with a far-right anti-immigration party. After weeks of...

Austin hopes Turkey will act on Sweden NATO bid before July

MUSKO NAVAL BASE, Sweden (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday it's important that Turkey makes its decision to allow Sweden to join NATO “sooner versus later” and he “feels confident” it will happen before the alliance summit in July. Speaking during a...

Europe's most powerful nuclear reactor kicks off in Finland

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s much-delayed and costly new nuclear reactor, Europe's most powerful by production capacity, has completed a test phase lasting more than a year and started regular output, boosting the Nordic country’s electricity self-sufficiency significantly. The...

NATO member Finland breaks ground on Russia border fence

IMATRA, Finland (AP) — The construction of barbed-wired fence along Finland’s long border with Russia - primarily meant to curb illegal migration - has broken ground near the southeastern town of Imatra less than two weeks after the Nordic country joined NATO as the 31st member of the military...