As part of the project “Meeting with Diplomats”, which is implemented at the Department of International Relations of the Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, an online meeting of students of the educational program “International Relations, Public Communications and Regional Studies” with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Finland, Mykhailo Mykhailovych Vydoynyk, took place.
In his opening remarks, Mykhailo Vydoynyk outlined in detail the specifics of diplomatic work in the host country. In his speech, he drew attention to the geographical conditions of Finland, the harsh climate, which significantly affect the way of life and social processes in the country, and also characterized the key features of the mentality of the Finnish people, in particular, restraint, pragmatism, and a high level of civic responsibility.
Separately, the diplomat briefly touched upon the historical context of relations between Finland, Ukraine and Russia, which allowed for a better understanding of Finland’s current approaches to security and international policy issues. Ambassador Vydoynyk emphasized that about 95% of Finnish citizens today support Ukraine in its struggle for independence and territorial integrity. He also emphasized the significant political, humanitarian and military assistance that Finland provides to Ukraine, as well as the high level of solidarity of Finnish society with the Ukrainian people.
The diplomat paid special attention to Finland’s experience in the field of civil protection: the diplomat emphasized that Finland is the so-called “country of bomb shelters”, which are located almost everywhere, including large-scale shelters capable of accommodating up to 6 thousand people. The importance of cooperation between Finland and Ukraine in the development of the shelter system and the safety of the civilian population was also noted.
At the end of his speech, Mykhailo Vydoynyk also spoke about the tourist attractions of the Republic of Finland, in particular, about the residence of Santa Claus in Lapland and the unique natural phenomenon – the northern lights, which are important components of the country’s tourist appeal.
The meeting was held in a meaningful and constructive atmosphere and was a good opportunity for international students and teachers of the Department of International Relations to get to know more about the features of modern diplomatic practice and Finland’s experience in the field of security, education, and international relations.
