On Wednesday, Finland participated in a joint military exercise organized by its Nordic neighbor Sweden in the western part of the island of Gotland, the Defense Forces said.
At the same time, the Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen (Center) met his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist In Visby, Gotland, to discuss the current security situation and co-operation.
"The intensified security situation underlines the importance of good cooperation and joint training. We take care of our own area," Kaikkonen told Yle’s correspondent Kirsi Heikel On Gotland.
The defense ministers of both countries considered the situation very serious.
"It’s startling. Russia has launched its first major offensive in Europe since World War II." Hultqvist said.
"It is a violent insult to the Ukrainian nation and democracy. It demonstrates the nature of the Russian regime, its unpredictability and its readiness to use military force and military violence to achieve political ends," said Hultqvist.
Both Finland and Sweden have made historic decisions on arms exports to Ukraine.
According to the Defense Forces bulletin, the aim of the exercises was to test and develop the interoperability of the countries’ navies and air forces.
Departments of the Finnish Defense Forces as well as warships and air force aircraft participated in the exercise. In addition, Minlayyer Uusimaa of the Finnish Coastal Fleet participated in exercises related to operating in an international environment.
Two Hornet fighters also took part in the exercises.
Source: The Nordic Page