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Russia, Finland Pledge To Seek End To Ukraine Conflict


Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has agreed with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto they will "do everything within our power" to end the conflict in Ukraine.

The crisis in Ukraine where government troops are fighting pro-Russian separatists was high on the agenda of talks Putin and Niinisto held on August 15 in Sochi.

Niinisto, speaking through a translator, said he hoped a Russian aid delivery to eastern Ukraine would pave the way for a ceasefire.

Niinisto's office said that the Finnish president will travel from Sochi to Kyiv, where he will hold talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on August 16.

Putin also said EU sanctions against Moscow put under threat an entire range of ties between Russia and Finland.

Finland has been hard hit by trade embargoes that Moscow has implemented in retaliation for EU sanctions.

The EU sanctions were imposed to punish Russia for its annexation of Crimea and what Western governments say is Moscow's support for the rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Based on reporting by Reuters and ITAR-TASS

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