Presidents of Russia, Iceland, Finland discuss Arctic cooperation in Arkhangelsk

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his counterparts from Iceland and Finland met on Thursday to seek cooperation on the development of the Arctic region.

Speaking during a plenary session at the 4th International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk, Putin said Russia was open to a constructive cooperation with its foreign partners in the Arctic and beyond.

“The Arctic region is the ideal space for dialogue and cooperation. Our cooperation in this part of the world can spill to cooperation in other regions,” said Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at a session of the International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk, Russia, on March 30, 2017./ CFP Photo

The International Arctic Forum in Arkhangelsk have attracted several Western delegations but issues such as the crisis in Ukraine and Russia's support for the Syrian government were off the table. Instead, the talks were mainly focused on the Arctic cooperation.

However, the plenary session that wrapped the Forum didn't go without politics. The Russian President talked about Russia's willingness to improve relations with Washington, while denying interference in the US election. Putin said that Moscow would support US President Donald Trump in fighting terrorism.

Finland, which stepped up its military defense following the conflict in eastern Ukraine, says that a dialogue with Moscow is improving.

The two-day conference in Arkhangelsk also marks the first time that Norway's and Denmark's foreign ministers have traveled to Russia since the start of the Ukrainian crisis. While admitting that mutual relations are not currently going through the best of times, both sides said that the Arctic Forum was an opportunity for an exchange of opinions.

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