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Added on the 29/12/2014 10:24:57 - Copyright : Reuters EN
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says it was critical to strengthen Ukraine before any peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as calls grow for negotiations. "Precisely because we have no illusions about Putin's aspirations, we believe the prerequisite for meaningful diplomacy and real peace is a stronger Ukraine -- capable of deterring and defending against any future aggression," Blinken says in a speech in Helsinki. SOUNDBITE
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calls the invasion of Ukraine a "strategic failure" for Russia, pointing to Western unity and Moscow's losses. Russian President Vladimir "Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine has been a strategic failure -- greatly diminishing Russia's power, its interests and its influence for years to come," Blinken says in a speech in Helsinki. SOUNDBITE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Helsinki on a surprise visit to Finland to participate in a summit gathering the leaders of the five Nordic nations. Zelensky is welcomed by his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, whose country became NATO's newest member in April, with the two leaders set to discuss "Ukraine's defence struggle" in the face of Russia's invasion. IMAGES
On a surprise visit to Finland to participate in a summit gathering the leaders of the five Nordic nations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he believes "that this year will be decisive for us, for Ukraine, for Europe, decisive for victory". Zelensky's remarks come at a press conference with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto, whose country became NATO's newest member in April in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. SOUNDBITE
At the border crossing in Vaalimaa, Finland, Russians arrive by bus or car, with many of them escaping the military mobilisation decreed by President Vladimir Putin. IMAGES
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