Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Arrives in Finland to Meet Nordic Leaders

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Helsinki, Finland May 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Finland's President Sauli Niinisto welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Helsinki, Finland May 3, 2023. (Reuters)
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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Arrives in Finland to Meet Nordic Leaders

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Helsinki, Finland May 3, 2023. (Reuters)
Finland's President Sauli Niinisto welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Helsinki, Finland May 3, 2023. (Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Finland on Wednesday for talks with Nordic leaders on support for his country's war with Russia and on its relations with Europe, governments of the region said.

Zelenskiy will hold bilateral talks with Finland's President Sauli Niinisto followed by a news conference before joining a regional summit and a second meeting with media, Niinisto's office said in a statement.

Hundreds of people gathered in central Helsinki to see Zelenskiy arrive, cheering him as he appeared in front of the presidential palace.

The wider summit will include Niinisto as well as the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

"The theme of the summit is Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the Nordic countries' continued support for Ukraine, Ukraine's relationship with the EU and NATO, and Ukraine's initiative for a just peace," Niinisto's office said.

A spokesperson for Zelenskiy in a statement said the Ukrainian government expected the summit to result in a joint statement.

"The meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and the five countries of Northern Europe is organized for further coordination of military assistance to our state, European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine," the spokesperson wrote.

The Ukrainian president's visit to Finland, one of only a few journeys he has made abroad since Russia's invasion last year, was announced only after his arrival amid tight security in the Finnish capital.

Finland recently joined NATO, becoming its 31st member, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a long border with Russia.

The Kremlin said on April 4 Finland's accession to NATO was a dangerous historic mistake that would weaken security in the wider region and force Moscow to take counter-measures.

Echoing this view, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a briefing on Wednesday: "As we observe NATO's plans for Finland, we confirm that Russia will be forced to retaliate, both militarily and otherwise, in order to curb threats to our national security."



Microsoft AI CEO's Remarks Interrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protester

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman speaks at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, US, April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman speaks at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, US, April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin
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Microsoft AI CEO's Remarks Interrupted by Pro-Palestinian Protester

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman speaks at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, US, April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman speaks at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, US, April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin

Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman's remarks were interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protesting employee during the technology company's 50th anniversary celebration on Friday over the firm's ties with Israel.
"You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide," Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad said at the event in Redmond, Washington, while interrupting Suleyman who was talking about the company's artificial intelligence assistant product.
According to Reuters, Suleyman responded by saying: "I hear your protest, thank you." The protesting employee was then escorted away.
An investigation by The Associated Press revealed earlier this year that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI were used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing targets during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Various other firms and educational institutions have also faced protests over their ties with Israel as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from Israel's military assault has mounted.

The Verge tech news website quoted an email that Aboussad, the protesting employee, sent to other Microsoft employees justifying her protest.
Microsoft said it provided many avenues for all voices to be heard in a way that does not cause business interruption.
Aboussad was cited by AP to be saying that she and another protesting employee lost access to their work accounts after the protest.