The Finnish president and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, made an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Thursday, where Innes-Stubb took part in a summit organised by Olena Zelenska, the spouse of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelenska was first to announce the news on the social media site X.
Innes-Stubb's itinerary included a visit to Kyiv school number 96, which suffered a major Russian missile strike last spring. The facility has since been renovated, but its air raid shelters are still lacking.
Finland's first lady was warmly welcomed by the school, with its principal, Larysa Zuk, welcoming her in Finnish.
Zuk noted that the school is also a gathering place for the surrounding community, a safe location where locals can spend the night during airstrikes.
Innes-Stubb said she was most impressed by the perseverance of the Ukrainian people.
"When I asked [Zuk] how she managed, she said she just got on with it," Innes-Stubb explained, adding that she heard similar replies from parents she met at a hospital in the country last year.
According to Innes-Stubb, Finland has extensive experience in supporting children's education in Ukraine. She said Finland is capable of providing immediate reconstruction work, as well as in the future.
Friends from Finland
Innes-Stubb listed three clear ways Finland aims to help Ukraine: by showing and providing support, by highlighting the work of NGOs, and by sharing what was learned about Ukraine's needs with the people of Finland.
She added that she wants Ukrainians to know that Finland has not forgotten them, noting further that she hopes to be remembered as a friend who supported them in their time of need.
Towards the end of her visit to the school, first graders handed Innes-Stubb a wall decoration they had made. At the bottom of it, the word "good" was written in Ukrainian and Finnish.
Innes-Stubb brought gifts from Finland for her hosts as well, including Moomin books, safety reflectors and copies of the children's book The Canine Kalevala, by Finnish cartoonist and author Mauri Kunnas.
Innes-Stubb also spoke about her relationship with the Ukrainian president and his wife, saying that while it is important to show support in words, actions are also needed.
When Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska visited Finland earlier this year, the Finnish presidential couple invited them to their home in Helsinki to spend an evening together.
