Official press releases, news and speeches that the minister has held are located in this section. The Ministry of Defence publishes all of its press releases and news in Finnish and Swedish and many of them in English, too.
Press Releases
Minister of Defence Häkkänen to NATO defence ministers’ meeting, Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and to EU defence ministers’ meeting
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence, a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) and the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council with defence ministers in Brussels on Wednesday 15 October 2025.
“We will have a series of important meetings to strengthen our security. Together with our colleagues in NATO and the European Union, we will be planning how to strengthen the defence of the eastern flank of NATO and the EU and how to translate NATO’s new defence spending targets into capabilities. This includes developing air and missile defence and improving military mobility,” Minister Häkkänen said.
“We are also planning to continue our support to Ukraine. The key is to strengthen Ukraine by increasing our support and to weaken Russia by tightening our sanctions. Finland has reinforced its own defence industry so that we can support Ukraine more effectively than before,” Häkkänen said.
Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence
Minister of Defence Häkkänen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence. The ministers will discuss the Alliance’s capability targets, the strengthening of integrated air and missile defence, NATO operations as well as support for Ukraine.
The defence 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.
Meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group
Minister of Defence Häkkänen will attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG). The topics will include the situation of the war in Ukraine and the coordination of materiel and training support to Ukraine between the countries of the UDCG.
The meeting was convened by UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius.
EU Foreign Affairs Council with defence ministers
Minister of Defence Häkkänen will also attend a working dinner of the EU Foreign Affairs Council with defence ministers to discuss defence readiness in Europe.
The Minister will also have several bilateral meetings in Brussels.
Inquiries: Emmi Veräjänkorva, Senior Specialist (meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence), tel. +358 295 140 087; Esko Salminen, Senior Specialist (Ukraine Defense Contact Group's meeting), tel. +358 295 140 094; Eemeli Heikkilä, Senior Specialist (EU Foreign Affairs Council with defence ministers), tel. +358 295 140 020; and Emma Virkkunen, Senior Specialist (communications) tel. +358 295 140 176.