Finnish prime minister discusses Ukrainian drone incursions with Zelenskyy

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has raised concerns with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after two drones allegedly violated Finnish airspace early Sunday morning, state broadcaster Yle reports.

Speaking to Yle by phone from a working visit in Armenia, Orpo confirmed he addressed the issue in a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy on Monday evening. “I made it clear that Finland supports Ukraine and understands its need to defend itself. However, it is not acceptable for our airspace to be violated or for drones to stray into our territory,” Orpo stated.

The prime minister said authorities have detailed information about the overnight incident and stressed that any airspace violation is a serious matter. He added that Finland is well-prepared to monitor and defend against drone threats, with plans to significantly strengthen these capabilities in the near future.

Orpo praised the work of Finnish officials and expressed confidence that discussions with Ukrainian leadership would lead to greater caution to prevent future incursions. While acknowledging that absolute protection against drones is impossible, he reassured the public that “Finns can sleep peacefully at night.”