Finnish Ambassador Apologizes for Tweet Criticizing Morocco’s Stance on Ukraine War

"Mauritania voted for the humanitarian resolution, Morocco absent, as during the vote condemning the Russian invasion. History will show that justice will prevail," the Finnish diplomat tweeted on March 25. This tweet sparked strong reactions. Faced with the controversy, Pekka Hyvönen withdrew it a few hours later. "I regret and apologize for the tweet, it was a misunderstanding and I repeat my respect for Morocco’s sovereignty," he wrote in another tweet. "The basis of our bilateral relations is solid and our relations will remain good. My best wishes from Oualidia," added the Finnish diplomat.

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine by Russia, Morocco has adopted and maintained a position of neutrality. On March 2, at the UN General Assembly, Rabat did not participate in the vote on the UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanding that "the Russian Federation immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine."