The Ukraine crisis has considerable repercussions for European foreign and security policy, and decision-making in Nato, President Sauli Niinistö estimated while inspecting the Gulf of Finland Naval Command in Kirkkonummi on Thursday.
For Finland, he added, the repercussions are no different from elsewhere in Europe.
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“Europe has had a wake-up call: peace is not self-evident. A genuinely new debate on common security and defence policy has arisen in the EU. I believe this is a good thing and Finland should be active.”
Ukraine, Niinistö estimated, has been on the brink of a civil war and remains in a precarious state as hatred in its eastern regions is fuelled from beyond its borders. On the other hand, the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin have become more moderate, Niinistö pointed out, voicing his hope that Russia continues to alleviate rather than to incite tensions in Ukraine.
Niinistö on Thursday also revealed that he will contact Putin in the near future, after the scheduled visit of the President of Estonia in Finland and the Victory Day celebrations in Russia.
According to the Finnish President, the political climate is already comparable to the Cold War era. “I'm not claiming that the Cold War is back, but what is back is a climate of extreme mistrust,” he explained.
In addition, the crisis has influenced the public perception of Nato, steering the debate on the defence alliance in a new direction also in Finland. As a result, the arguments heard over and over again over the past decades are hopefully updated, Niinistö stated.
Finland was seeking a new direction in its defence policy also before the crisis in Ukraine flared up, the President reminded. As an example, he referred to the ongoing effort to deepen defence co-operation with Sweden but also cautioned against rushing into decisions. “As we build up trust, we can take the next step, as far as the trust allows.”
Although the significance of Nato partnership will increase in the future, it is vital that Finland also maintains its own defence capabilities under all circumstances, Niinistö stressed.
Anna-Liina Kauhanen – HS
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
© HELSINGIN SANOMAT
Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva
