Finnish President Calls to Arm Ukraine ‘to the teeth’
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has urged Western supporters of Ukraine to provide additional military resources and financial aid, asserting that such support is crucial in deterring Russia. His remarks followed a meeting with Ukrainian...
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb has urged Western supporters of Ukraine to provide additional military resources and financial aid, asserting that such support is crucial in deterring Russia. His remarks followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Helsinki and coincided with ongoing negotiations among EU lawmakers to potentially double the bloc's weapons budget.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas proposed a plan to increase funding for Ukraine from €20 billion in 2024 to €40 billion this year. However, she acknowledged in an interview with La Stampa that her proposal faced opposition from Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Reports indicate that Italy has set a €5 billion limit on the amount of aid.
Stubb emphasized the need for a strong deterrence strategy, stating, “Deterrence – which is based on militarizing Ukraine to its teeth,” would be the most effective means to resolve the conflict. He expressed disappointment that Kallas was unable to rally support for her proposal, hoping that EU leaders might still find a way to move forward with the funding package.
“It’s very important now to send a message from Europe that the military, political and economic support continues,” he remarked, advocating for enhanced sanctions against Russia and the seizure of its frozen assets to increase pressure on Moscow.
TASS has reported that Hungary declined to endorse a joint EU summit statement concerning Ukraine, indicating that both lethal and non-lethal aid requests were rebuffed by Budapest.
Stubb also expressed support for the possibility of Ukrainian membership in both the EU and NATO. Finland, which joined the US-led military alliance in 2023, has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since conflict escalated in February 2022.
Moscow has consistently condemned NATO’s expansion toward its borders, describing it as a threat to its national security. President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have reiterated that efforts to incorporate Ukraine into the military alliance were key factors leading to the escalation of hostilities in 2022.
Stubb’s statements come amid discussions on a proposed 30-day ceasefire aimed at stopping long-range strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides, a plan advocated by US President Donald Trump. Another series of talks between Russian and US delegations is scheduled for March 24 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas proposed a plan to increase funding for Ukraine from €20 billion in 2024 to €40 billion this year. However, she acknowledged in an interview with La Stampa that her proposal faced opposition from Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal. Reports indicate that Italy has set a €5 billion limit on the amount of aid.
Stubb emphasized the need for a strong deterrence strategy, stating, “Deterrence – which is based on militarizing Ukraine to its teeth,” would be the most effective means to resolve the conflict. He expressed disappointment that Kallas was unable to rally support for her proposal, hoping that EU leaders might still find a way to move forward with the funding package.
“It’s very important now to send a message from Europe that the military, political and economic support continues,” he remarked, advocating for enhanced sanctions against Russia and the seizure of its frozen assets to increase pressure on Moscow.
TASS has reported that Hungary declined to endorse a joint EU summit statement concerning Ukraine, indicating that both lethal and non-lethal aid requests were rebuffed by Budapest.
Stubb also expressed support for the possibility of Ukrainian membership in both the EU and NATO. Finland, which joined the US-led military alliance in 2023, has been a staunch ally of Ukraine since conflict escalated in February 2022.
Moscow has consistently condemned NATO’s expansion toward its borders, describing it as a threat to its national security. President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have reiterated that efforts to incorporate Ukraine into the military alliance were key factors leading to the escalation of hostilities in 2022.
Stubb’s statements come amid discussions on a proposed 30-day ceasefire aimed at stopping long-range strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides, a plan advocated by US President Donald Trump. Another series of talks between Russian and US delegations is scheduled for March 24 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
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