NATO Member Declares It Will Not Send Long-Range Weapons to Kiev
President Alexander Stubb announced that Finland will refrain from supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Finland, neighboring Russia, has raised concerns about potential attacks from the eastern border.
President Alexander Stubb of Finland has currently ruled out supplying high-precision long-range weaponry to Ukraine, citing the country's geographical position near Russia. In a Tuesday interview with Finnish state broadcaster Yle, Stubb affirmed Helsinki's support for military aid to Kyiv, yet emphasized that long-range arms are unnecessary at this time.
“One must remember that Finland is at the frontline. The 1,340-km border between NATO and Russia means that we have our role in this defensive war,” he told Yle, as reported by TASS. “And one goal for us is to make sure that our territory could not be attacked from the Russian side.”
Moreover, Stubb addressed reporters earlier that day, stating that Finland will not restrict the types of weapons it sends to Ukraine.
“Directly answering the question: yes, the Ukrainian Armed Forces can use Western weapons to strike Russian territory,” he affirmed at a press conference.
A report earlier this month from newspaper Iltalehti indicated that NATO plans to deploy an armored brigade of up to 5,000 troops in southeastern Finland as a deterrent against Russia. The Finnish government is said to have recognized the necessity of positioning NATO troops from other nations to “strengthen preventative deterrence” against Russian aggression.
Finland officially became a NATO member in April 2023 due to concerns stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In response, Moscow announced plans to modify its defense strategy in the northwestern region, with President Vladimir Putin warning of potential “problems” with neighboring Finland following the accession. Nevertheless, Putin has rejected assertions from the West that Russia intends to target NATO countries, insisting that Moscow “has no reason, no interest, no geopolitical interest, neither economic, nor political, nor military, to fight with NATO countries.”
In April, Helsinki and Kyiv formalized a 10-year security agreement, which Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a “strong document that proves Finland’s readiness to continue supporting Ukraine” in its conflict with Russia. Moscow has consistently criticized Western arms shipments to Kyiv, contending that such support implicates the West as a participant in the ongoing hostilities. Additionally, Helsinki has joined Estonia and Poland in expressing support for Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, asserting it was justified under Ukraine’s right to self-defense.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
President Alexander Stubb of Finland has currently ruled out supplying high-precision long-range weaponry to Ukraine, citing the country's geographical position near Russia. In a Tuesday interview with Finnish state broadcaster Yle, Stubb affirmed Helsinki's support for military aid to Kyiv, yet emphasized that long-range arms are unnecessary at this time.
“One must remember that Finland is at the frontline. The 1,340-km border between NATO and Russia means that we have our role in this defensive war,” he told Yle, as reported by TASS. “And one goal for us is to make sure that our territory could not be attacked from the Russian side.”
Moreover, Stubb addressed reporters earlier that day, stating that Finland will not restrict the types of weapons it sends to Ukraine.
“Directly answering the question: yes, the Ukrainian Armed Forces can use Western weapons to strike Russian territory,” he affirmed at a press conference.
A report earlier this month from newspaper Iltalehti indicated that NATO plans to deploy an armored brigade of up to 5,000 troops in southeastern Finland as a deterrent against Russia. The Finnish government is said to have recognized the necessity of positioning NATO troops from other nations to “strengthen preventative deterrence” against Russian aggression.
Finland officially became a NATO member in April 2023 due to concerns stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In response, Moscow announced plans to modify its defense strategy in the northwestern region, with President Vladimir Putin warning of potential “problems” with neighboring Finland following the accession. Nevertheless, Putin has rejected assertions from the West that Russia intends to target NATO countries, insisting that Moscow “has no reason, no interest, no geopolitical interest, neither economic, nor political, nor military, to fight with NATO countries.”
In April, Helsinki and Kyiv formalized a 10-year security agreement, which Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a “strong document that proves Finland’s readiness to continue supporting Ukraine” in its conflict with Russia. Moscow has consistently criticized Western arms shipments to Kyiv, contending that such support implicates the West as a participant in the ongoing hostilities. Additionally, Helsinki has joined Estonia and Poland in expressing support for Ukraine's recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, asserting it was justified under Ukraine’s right to self-defense.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
