Helsingin Sanomat, the largest newspaper in the Nordic region, has taken billboard space to welcome presidents Trump and Putin to 'the Land of Free Press'.

Billboards on the presidents' routes from the airport to the summit have been filled with news headlines regarding them and their attitude towards the freedom of the press.

Almost 300 individual posters on the route highlight the presidents' turbulent relations with the media and were published between 2000 and 2018.

Senior editor-in-chief Kaius Niemi says the campaign is a stand for the freedom of the press: "This is a statement on behalf of critical and high quality journalism.

"As we welcome the presidents to the summit in Finland, we want to remind them of the importance of free press. The media shouldn't be the lap dog of any president or regime.

"We want to show our support to those colleagues who have to fight in ever toughening circumstances on a daily basis both in the US and Russia. Our goal is to raise the topic of the freedom of the press around the world."

Relations between both the Russian and US presidents and the free press have been problematic. In Russia, the freedom of the press has become almost non-existent during the reign of Putin. In the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, Russia is ranked 148 of 180 countries.

The US is ranked 45th, and Trump is well known for his contemptuous statements and attitude towards the media, calling the press "the enemy of the people" and "the opposition party", among other things.

Niemi says Finland - ranked fourth in the World Press Freedom Index - also needs to work harder to ensure press freedom.

Helsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newspaper in the region.