Question: Mrs. Nuland, you have just visited Ukraine and the parliamentary elections will be held there in two weeks' time. Is there a way out of the Ukrainian crisis?

Assistant Secretary Nuland: Well I think the Ukrainians are working very hard on a very large number of issues that confront them. As you know, on September 5th, there was a peace agreement. That peace agreement now needs to be implemented in full. We still have sporadic shooting in parts of the country. But it is equally important that that international border be returned to Ukrainian sovereignty, that foreign forces and equipment leave so we are working on supporting the Ukrainians in that demand that the peace agreement be fully implemented. And I talked about that with the Finnish leadership today. They also have gas needs for the winter. The EU is working intensively to broker an agreement between Russia and Ukraine. We are very supportive of that idea, we were working on that on this trip. As you said, we need free, fair elections for parliament on October 26th so we were working with all of the parties to encourage and with people so they would come out and vote, that there not be complacency in Ukraine. And then of course all of the economic issues. It is a very good thing that they have now passed the first package of anti-corruption legislation. That was a demand of the EU, of the IMF, and of the United States. They need to pass it on second reading next week. And then we all will help them to implement that and economic reforms. So a lot to do but Finland has been a spectacular partner and a strong EU player. We know that the Finnish economy had taken some hits from the tough costs we have been forced to impose on Russia. So just to say to you and to the Finnish people that we are very grateful for your solidarity at this very, very important geopolitical moment.

Question: As you said, the United States and the EU have imposed economic sanctions against Russia. Do you think it is possible to change President Putin’s behavior with sanctions?

Assistant Secretary Nuland: Well, I think we have to make that effort. As your prime minister said not too long ago in Berlin, “If you want to benefit from the international system, as Russia does today, then you need to obey its rules.” And that means that big countries can’t go trumping over little countries. And we as a democratic community need to make those Helsinki principles that we all stood up for forty years ago mean something. So I think this is a very good tool for us to send a message to Russia that you can’t benefit from our system if you don’t live by its rules.

Question: Russian aggression in Ukraine has raised great concerns in the neighboring countries, including Finland.

Assistant Secretary Nuland: Yes.

Question: What is your message to the Finnish people, how to improve and safeguard our security?

Assistant Secretary Nuland: Well we did have a good conversation at the Ministry of Defense today and with the Prime Minister. You know Finland has a very unique, integrated national defense structure where you integrate the way you deal in your communities with border security, with military security. I frankly think that that can be a model for all of the countries who live in on the border now. And it is not simply about tanks and airplanes, although that is important too, it is also about border security, it is about local community policing, so that you know what is going on, and you know what influences there might be, and it is of course about cyber security where Finland also excels.

Question: Unlike many other EU countries, Finnish leaders have been in close contact with the Russian president, the Russian foreign minister. Is this the right way to do or should Russia be isolated?

Assistant Secretary Nuland: Well, as you know, the EU made a policy decision in March to be very judicious in its contacts to have only those contacts that we think can advance the cause of peace and security in Europe. So we have all had contacts that we consider advance those goals and we need to continue to be very firm that that will be the central topic of conversation and that there will not be benefits from these relationships until Russia comes back to Helsinki principles.

Thank you so much.

Question: Thank you.