HELSINKI (Reuters) - Russia's actions in Ukraine will have an impact on the security assessment for a joint Finnish-Russian nuclear plant project in northwest Finland, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told reporters on Tuesday.

       "Security will certainly be one factor in the review," Niinisto said.

       He declined to comment on the likely outcome of the assessment and added the Finnish government would make the final decision on whether a construction permit is granted.

       The plant is a joint project between a consortium of Finnish utilities and a subsidiary of Russian state company Rosatom which holds a 34% stake. Finland has been preparing the venture for 10 years, eight of them with Russia as partner.

       Niinisto also said the European Union would make a decision on Tuesday on the first set of sanctions in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

       (Reporting by Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto; Editing by Catherine Evans, William Maclean)