It is impossible without Russia: Helsinki resumed work with Moscow in The Arctic Council

The resumption of the work of the Arctic Council in the format of working groups with the participation of representatives of Russia is a positive moment, said the Ambassador for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland Petteri Vuorimaki.

"We are far from normal activities and cooperation that would allow the Arctic Council to work at full speed. But the positive thing is that the Arctic Council is working, able to function and make decisions," Vuorimyaki said in an interview with public broadcaster yle, TASS reports.

He stressed that the meetings with the participation of representatives of Russia went "pretty well."

"Working groups meet two or three times a year and try to move forward, but virtual meetings began only in spring and summer. It is still difficult to assess their effectiveness," the ambassador said.

Vuorimyaki noted that solving climate problems, which pose a great threat to the whole world, is impossible without Russia.

Recall that the work of the Arctic Council was suspended on March 3, 2022, in the fall of 2023, the participants resumed written communication. In February 2024, it was decided to resume the activities of working groups, including Russia, in the format of online meetings. The first meetings were held in the spring and summer of 2024.

The Arctic Council is an intergovernmental organization of the Arctic states. Its participants are Denmark (along with Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, USA, Finland and Sweden.