Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Finland on Wednesday for talks with Nordic leaders on support for his countrys war with Russia and on its relations with Europe, governments of the region said. Zelenskiy will hold bilateral talks with Finlands President Sauli Niinisto followed by a news conference before joining a regional summit and a second meeting with media, Niinistos office said in a statement. Hundreds of people gathered in central Helsinki to see Zelenskiy arrive, cheering him as he appeared in front of the presidential palace. The wider summit will include Niinisto as well as the prime ministers of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. "The theme of the summit is Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, the Nordic countries continued support for Ukraine, Ukraines relationship with the EU and NATO, and Ukraines initiative for a just peace," Niinistos office said. A spokesperson for Zelenskiy in a statement said the Ukrainian government expected the summit to result in a joint statement. "The meeting of the leaders of Ukraine and the five countries of Northern Europe is organized for further coordination of military assistance to our state, European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine," the spokesperson wrote. The Ukrainian presidents visit to Finland, one of only a few journeys he has made abroad since Russias invasion last year, was announced only after his arrival amid tight security in the Finnish capital. Finland recently joined NATO, becoming its 31st member, in response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Finland shares a long border with Russia. The Kremlin said on April 4 Finlands accession to NATO was a dangerous historic mistake that would weaken security in the wider region and force Moscow to take counter-measures. Echoing this view, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a briefing on Wednesday: "As we observe NATOs plans for Finland, we confirm that Russia will be forced to retaliate, both militarily and otherwise, in order to curb threats to our national security."