Polish, Finnish presidents to meet for talks in Warsaw

The Polish and Finnish presidents are expected to meet in Warsaw on Monday to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, European security and bilateral relations.

The Polish Presidential Palace in Warsaw.

Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Poland's Andrzej Duda and Finland's Sauli Niinistö will hold face-to-face talks in the Polish capital on issues including migration, according to officials.

BREAKING:

Finnish border guards are forced to use tear gas as a large group of illegal migrants from Syria and Iraq are trying to force its way into Finland from Russia at the Niirila border crossing

Russia uses weaponized migration as a tool of hybrid warfare against 🇫🇮 & 🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/mXfMOqzUpK

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) November 17, 2023

These will be followed by a meeting of a wider group of officials from both countries, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

🇵🇱🤝🇫🇮 Dziś (20.11) o godz. 11.00 spotkanie Prezydentów Polski @AndrzejDuda i Finlandii @niinisto.

O godz. 12.50 Prezydenci spotkają się z przedstawicielami mediów.

🔴 Zapraszamy do oglądania transmisji w naszych mediach społecznościowych oraz na stronie… pic.twitter.com/YKiv5ptMNa

— Kancelaria Prezydenta (@prezydentpl) November 20, 2023

While in Poland in Monday and Tuesday, the Finnish leader is also scheduled to meet with parliamentary Speakers Szymon Hołownia and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.

Finland has accused Russia of flooding its borders with migrants from the Middle East and Africa and erected protective barriers at the border with Russia to stop migrants from crossing into the country, news outlets reported.

The Government has decided to close part of Finland's eastern border.

The border crossing points of Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala will be closed starting on 18 November 2023.

The decision will remain in force until 18 February 2024.

More: https://t.co/JDhhTfwsR8

— Finnish Government (@FinGovernment) November 16, 2023

The Finnish military has arrived at the Vartius checkpoint on the border with Russia to help border guards erect a temporary protective barrier against illegal migrants. pic.twitter.com/KQDFBVJokH

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 19, 2023

In early April, Finland formally joined NATO, becoming the Western military alliance’s 31st member in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, starting the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II.

Monday is day 635 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP