Defence Minister Häkkänen to attend meetings of Ukraine Defense Contact Group and NATO defence ministers in Brussels
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) and a meeting of NATO defence ministers at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 4–5 June 2025.
Meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group
Minister of Defence Häkkänen will attend the meeting of the UDCG on Wednesday 4 June.
The participants will address the situation in Ukraine and coordinate the materiel and training support to be provided to Ukraine. The meeting was convened by UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius.
“Finland has supported Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression. It is of paramount importance that we strengthen Ukraine on its path towards enduring and just peace,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.
Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence
Minister of Defence Häkkänen will attend the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence on Thursday 5 June.
The agenda of the meeting includes the Alliance's expenditure target level, capability targets, transatlantic defence industry cooperation, and preparations for the NATO Hague Summit.
“Strengthening deterrence and defence to respond to the challenges of the current security environment requires significant additional investments. At the meeting we will discuss, among other things, new capability targets that require long-term investments in defence, more personnel and a broader defence industry base,” says Minister of Defence Häkkänen.
The ministers will also attend an informal lunch of the NATO-Ukraine Council where they will discuss continuing support for Ukraine and achieving a lasting peace. The NATO-Ukraine Council was established at the Vilnius Summit in July 2023 to promote political dialogue and support Ukraine's aspirations for NATO membership.
Minister of Defence Häkkänen will also attend the meeting of NATO Nuclear planning Group, which is the highest body that sets guidelines for NATO's nuclear policy.
Inquiries: Esko Salminen, Senior Specialist (Ukraine Defence Contact Group’s meeting), tel. +358 295 140 04; Sebastian Wassholm, Senior Specialist (meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence), tel. +358 295 140 089, Emma Virkkunen Senior Specialist (communications), tel. +358 295 140 176