Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s quest to assert dominance over Europe will not end in Ukraine, as Moscow is “preparing for a long conflict with the West.”
Finland is one of two European nations that have joined NATO since Putin launched his war in Ukraine, defying the Russian president’s opposition to the alliance expanding by officially becoming a member last year. Neighbor Sweden followed suit earlier this month.
Putin denounced Finland’s decision to become a NATO member on Wednesday, calling the neighboring country’s accession a “senseless step” that had forced him to send weapons to the border during an interview with Russia state television propagandist Dmitry Kiselyov, according to European Pravda.
While addressing the European Parliament on the same day, Orpo told his allies that Russia was “not invincible” and urged them to rise to the “challenge” of supporting Ukraine and diminishing Moscow as a long-term threat to Europe.
Pier Marco Tacca
“Russia continues to commit war crimes in Ukraine,” Orpo said. “Russia is evidently preparing for a long conflict with the West and represents a permanent and existential military threat to Europe.”
“If we, as a united Europe, fail to respond sufficiently to this challenge, the coming years will be filled with danger and the looming threat of attack,” he continued. “We must pledge our support to Ukraine now for it to win this war, and at the same time enhance our own defense capabilities.”
Newsweek reached out for comment to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email on Wednesday night.
Orpo went on to say that “the cost of Russian military success” in Ukraine would “far exceed the investment required to support Ukraine,” arguing that “every euro spent on Ukraine today is a low price compared to the alternative cost if Russia wins.”
The European Union (EU) pledged to provide approximately $54 billion in new aid to Ukraine last month, although funds in the package will be distributed through 2027. Orpo said on Wednesday that “time is of the essence” for Europe to ramp up production of weapons and ammunition and deliver them to Ukraine as soon as possible.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently said that half of the military aid promised by Western allies were “not delivered on time.” EU officials announced an initiative earlier this month to increase arms production among member states and reduce reliance upon the U.S.
While the EU and many of its members have been attempting to increase aid to Ukraine as it struggles on the battlefield, a $60 billion U.S. aid package requested by President Joe Biden remains held up amid partisan disputes in Congress.
On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced that it was sending Ukraine a $300 million stop-gap military aid package without the need for congressional approval, using funds cobbled together from Department of Defense contracts that came in under budget.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.