Finnish PM Visits Kyiv: Ukraine and Finland Sign 7 Deals Worth About €300 Million; ICEYE and Nokia to Help Ukraine Build Sovereign Satellite Communications
KYIV — Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo visited Kyiv on October 22, and the trip produced more than a handshake. During the visit, Finnish companies ICEYE and Nokia signed a Letter of Intent with Ukraine's Ministry of Defence to explore cooperation on sovereign satellite communications infrastructure under Ukrainian control.
According to a joint press release from the two companies, the cooperation is intended to support Ukraine's defence capabilities by exploring the development of satellite communications infrastructure controlled by Ukraine. "Ukraine needs secure, sovereign and high-performance satellite communications systems that it controls. We have a proven track record of delivering sovereign missions at speed to help build that capability," said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, in the release.
One line needs to be drawn clearly: the Letter of Intent does not constitute a procurement agreement. The companies disclosed no financial commitments, procurement plans or timetable.
The agreement follows the companies' October 1 announcement of a partnership to develop broadband satellite communications systems operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), allowing governments to own and control their satellites, ground infrastructure and terminals rather than relying entirely on external commercial operators. The first communications satellites are expected to launch in 2028 under the broader project timetable; no corresponding schedule was announced for Ukraine. The systems are meant to complement existing military and commercial networks, providing additional connectivity when terrestrial communications are disrupted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the agreement in a Telegram statement, saying Ukraine had agreed to make greater use of Finland's satellite capabilities and calling the cooperation important for Ukraine's defence and resilience. According to Zelenskyy, seven documents were signed during Orpo's visit, with agreements totalling about EUR 300 million; no financial value was attributed specifically to the ICEYE–Nokia agreement.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：基辅独立广场（资料图）。Suicasmo 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经维基共享资源（Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), Kyiv (file photo). By Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
