Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Finland June 25

On June 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to pay a working visit to Finland by invitation of the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, according to the press service of Kremlin. The top level meeting coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of twin-city relations between St. Petersburg and Turku. “At the talks the parties will discuss the implementation of the agreements reached at the previous meeting of the leaders of Russia and Finland in Moscow /February 12, 2013/, exchange opinions on further development of bilateral relationships, particularly in economic, trade, investment, energy, cultural and humanitarian spheres ,” the press service of the Russian leader added. On the agenda are also subjects of the Russian-Finnish interaction within the Russia-EU partnership in the framework of international organizations and regional bodies in the Baltic, the North of Europe as a whole, as well as in the Arctic. At the meeting of the two leaders in February, which was held in Novo-Ogaryovo residence near Moscow, Putin expressed his concerns about the reduction of trade volumes between Russia and Finland by more than 12 percent. “We need to analyze the situation, think about what to do to make the situation not get worse, but improve,” Russian President said, calling the arrival in the country of his colleague from Finland "very well-timed." At the same time, the two heads of state agreed to continue efforts to simplify the visa regime.