Latest news with #Yle
Qatar Tribune
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Finland joins several of its NATO neighbours in exiting landmine treaty
CopenhagencTypeface:> Finland is to follow several of its NATO neighbours and exit the Ottawa Treaty banning the use of anti-personnel landmines, following a vote in the Helsinki parliament on Thursday, state broadcaster Yle reported. The measure was passed by 157 to eight votes and will go into force six months after formal Finnish notification to the UN. Baltic republics Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have already taken similar decisions, as has Poland. The Finnish government had announced the move in April following approval by the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. The Finnish military takes the view that it needs landmines to defend the country. The Ottawa Treaty went into effect in March 1999, banning the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of landmines. Finland signed up in 2012. The United States, Russia, China, India and Pakistan have not signed. (DPA)
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Death toll from heavy Russian strikes in Kiev rises to 28
dpa Kiev The death toll from heavy Russian missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital Kiev has risen to 28, officials said on Wednesday. Ukraine's civil defence authority said more bodies were recovered overnight from the rubble of a partially destroyed nine-storey residential building, raising the death toll from Tuesday's strike on that building alone to 23. 'Twenty-three of those killed were residents of a destroyed building entrance,' the public prosecutor's office announced after search operations in Kiev were completed. In total, 28 people were killed and at least 140 people were injured across the capital, it said. Rescue efforts were ongoing. On Tuesday, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile had directly hit the high-rise building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack 'pure terrorism.' Meanwhile, the chief of the Russian general staff, Valery Gerasimov, has paid a visit to troops on the front line in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, a video published by the Defence Ministry showed on Wednesday. The video shows Gerasimov being flown in by helicopter to a command point where he participated in a discussion near the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, the ministry said. Observers believe the visit could indicate dissatisfaction in Moscow on progress in the region. Pokrovsk is a strategically important transport hub in the west of the Donetsk region that has been at the focus of fighting for months and is almost completed destroyed. Ukrainian forces have managed to hold back the Russian advance. The Russians have advanced to the north and especially to the south of the city, threatening its encirclement. Ukraine has been warding off the full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022 with support from its Western allies. US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether US support will continue. Russia is boosting its military presence along the border with Finland two years after its neighbour joined NATO, Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported on Wednesday on the basis of recent satellite images. The images show construction work on a garrison for an artillery brigade in Kandalaksha in the Murmansk region, according to the broadcaster, which said it formed the first definite sign of a permanent increase in the number of troops near the border. Local authorities in Murmansk said a new military city was being built and old residential blocks renovated in the town some 150 kilometres from the border.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Finland's Foreign Ministry summons Russian chargé d'affaires over airspace violation
Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Russia's chargé d'affaires in response to a violation of the country's airspace. The meeting is scheduled for 11 June, but no further details have been disclosed. Source: Yle, a Finnish public service media company, citing the press service for Finland's Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda Details: A chargé d'affaires is the deputy to an ambassador who assumes their duties in the ambassador's absence. The incident took place on the afternoon of Tuesday 10 June. A Russian aircraft reportedly entered Finnish airspace over the sea near the city of Porvoo. The Finnish Border Guard is conducting an investigation. This is not the first such incident in the region. Finnish authorities have repeatedly stated their readiness to respond decisively to any violation of national sovereignty. Background: On 23 May, Finland's Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to explain another airspace violation by Russian aircraft. At the time, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen noted that Russian activity in the Baltic Sea had clearly increased, raising tensions in the region. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanctions must force Putin to negotiate, says Finnish prime minister
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has urged the US administration to swiftly implement tougher sanctions against Russia to compel Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to engage in peace negotiations. Source: Yle, as reported by European Pravda Details: "I hope that the United States will do this as soon as possible and in full," Orpo said. He described the sanctions package proposed by US Senator Lindsey Graham as "very strong" and urged its prompt adoption. "We have to find a solution now," he added. Orpo expressed hope that the United States would decide on the sanctions without delay, stating: "We must force Putin to sit at the negotiating table." He noted that the European Union is doing everything possible to support this effort. Background: On 1 April 2025, US Senators Lindsey Graham (Republican) and Richard Blumenthal (Democrat), supported by 82 co-sponsors, introduced the bill to impose economic sanctions on Russia for obstructing ceasefire efforts in its war of aggression against Ukraine, particularly by imposing a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that purchase Russian oil. The bill also received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, where a companion bill has 33 co-sponsors. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the final decision on any potential tightening of sanctions against Russia would be made by Trump. Media reports suggest that the Trump administration urged Graham to soften the sanctions against Russia in the bill, which has overwhelming support in the Senate. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Finland's Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador in response to Russian aircraft's violation of Finnish airspace
Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the ambassador of the Russian Federation, demanding an explanation for the violation of Finnish airspace by Russian military aircraft on 23 May. Source: Finnish public service media company Yle, as reported by European Pravda Details: Two Russian military aircraft are suspected of entering Finnish airspace near the town of Porvoo. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen stated at the time that the suspected violation of territorial integrity was being taken seriously. A formal request demanding an explanation will be sent to Russia. The Gulf of Finland Coast Guard has launched a preliminary investigation into the incident. Häkkänen also said that Russian activity in the Baltic Sea has clearly increased, raising tensions in the region. Background: Last week, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 bomber in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
