Niinisto stresses better Russia-West relations, Finland Times

President Sauli Niinistö on Saturday said Russia and the West should find progress in their relationship at least through the lowest common denominators. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Niinistö also expressed the hope that many would understand that Russia and the West can no longer afford the deterioration in relations.

“Even if we could agree on which things we cannot agree on; even that would be a step forward,” Niinistö told journalists during a break in the conference.

“From Syria to the North Pole, Russia always seems to be there. And Russia always seems to be somewhere just as bigger problems emerge,” he said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry in his Munich speech on Saturday said prolonging the economic sanctions against Russia would depend on Russia’s actions. Läs artikel