Finland – Meeting between Jean-Noël Barrot and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (July 24, 2025)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot met with his Finnish counterpart, Elina Valtonen, in Paris on July 24.

The Ministers welcomed the strengthening of our bilateral relationship.

The two Ministers reiterated their commitment to multilateralism and the fundamental principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), whose 2025 presidency is held by Finland. The Minister hailed the efforts and ambitions of the Finnish presidency, which is working to ensure that the organization functions smoothly despite the many challenges it is facing. Fifty years after the signature of the Helsinki Final Act, they emphasized that Europeans should continue to work together to define Europe’s security architecture.

More than three years after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Ministers reaffirmed France and Finland’s unwavering support for Ukraine. They commended the ambitiousness of the latest European sanctions package adopted on July 18, which should help step up pressure on Russia and force it to accept a ceasefire.

The Ministers reviewed the situation in Gaza, stressing that it is urgent to obtain an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all the hostages and unhindered access to humanitarian aid. The Ministers agreed to work together to strengthen EU efforts in this regard. They also underscored the essential role played by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in maintaining regional balance.