The independent presidential candidate and current president Sauli Niinisto greets and thanks supporters at his election reception in Helsinki on Sunday. Conceding defeat, he told reporters in Helsinki: "I admit that Saulu Niinisto clearly won, warm congratulations to him." During his first term, Niinisto diligently cultivated ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been at odds with the West, particularly since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. "One of the central goals of Finland's foreign and security policy is to avoid getting pulled into an armed conflict," Niinisto told Finnish defence forces in a speech earlier this month. "The changes in my private life will not change how I handle my tasks as a president," Niinisto told reporters on Sunday.

Source: Bangkok Post January 29, 2018 00:33 UTC