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Friday's papers: Ukrainian security deal, Tampere bike hangars, and ice swimming brrreakfast

Finland is currently negotiating a deal with Ukraine that will ensure long-term defence assistance.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (NCP) speaking in Geneva at the UN Human Rights Council in February.
Business daily Kauppalehti spoke with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) on a long-term security deal in the works with Ukraine. Image: Gabriel Monnet / AFP / Lehtikuva
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Business daily Kauppalehti spoke with Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) about Finland's ongoing negotiations with Ukraine for a security deal.

The prospective bilateral deal between Helsinki and Kyiv would solidify long-term defence aid for Ukraine.

Reuters reported a similar deal between Denmark and Ukraine, which will ensure 10 years of Danish support for Ukraine. At the same time, Denmark sent Ukraine an aid package totalling 230 million euros and including 15,000 artillery shells.

The deal followed an agreement among the Nordic countries late last year to formalise military assistance to Ukraine.

"It was agreed then [in December] that each country would make these security commitments with Ukraine," Valtonen said.

The United Kingdom, Germany and France have also already signed security agreements with Ukraine following a statement by G7 countries committing to provide long-term military support.

The Danish deal could serve as the precedent for the Finnish deal, with some minor differences.

"It is clear that the existing [security] agreements are also relevant for us, because it is also in Ukraine's interest to a certain extent that these agreements partly define how much aid they receive. Of course, there are also national variations, depending on what Ukraine wants and what can be supplied and where the strengths of each country lie," Valtonen said.

Ukraine announced the ongoing negotiations on Wednesday, but there has been no announcement so far in the process from the Finnish side.

According to Ukraine, the negotiations are led by Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and representatives from Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

"Of course, we may have a slightly different communication line, but we have generally started from the point of view that we will communicate when we are further along or when the deal is ready. Then we can give details when there's a deal ready. Of course, we were aware that Ukraine will inform and they have their own information policy, that yes, this is done in full coordination," Valtonen told KL.

Valtonen added that the deal was likely to be completed this spring.

Tampere bike hangar

Tampere-based newspaper Aamulehti covered a pilot programme for bicycle parking the city hopes to implement by partnering with local housing associations.

Tampere's new solution is to use what is called a bicycle hangar, a method of bicycle parking already seen on the streets of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

The project's manager Sanna Ovaska from the City of Tampere said that there is a clear need for seamless bicycle parking in the centre of the city.

"New buildings often have slightly better access to cycle parking, but the current situation is very variable, especially in older buildings. Bike cellars can be in awkward places and expensive bikes may not be properly locked," Ovaska told AL.

While the Dutch and British variations have been successful, the demanding Finnish climate will put bicycle hangars to the test, Ovaska added.

Eat your breakfast before it gets cold

Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat highlighted a local Helsinki man who eats breakfast every day in a hole in the ice.

Entrepreneur and chef Miki Puikkonen has been attempting a month-long challenge of the peculiar diet at Helsinki's island park Mustikkamaa.

Wearing neoprene gloves, he has shovelled Finnish staples like berries and porridge into his mouth, along with the more North American pancakes and maple syrup.

To up the ante, the chef has hinted that he might even start trying to make his breakfast while in the freezing water. He said his tolerance for cold water has increased to the point where he might be able to make scrambled eggs.

Puikkonen has found it difficult to regularly ice swim, since finding a suitable place and swimming partners in Helsinki can be tough. Similarly, finding a place to change clothes has proved to be a challenge for ice swimmers in the urban environment.

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