In Davos, Marin focused on talking about Ukraine and NATO – laughing at the question about gender
Prime Minister Sanna Marin (left) gave an interview aimed at an international audience in connection with the Davos Economic Forum and participated in a panel discussion today, Tuesday.
Marin said that the ratification of the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden should have happened faster.
– I think the process should have happened faster. Finland and Sweden tick all the boxes in terms of NATO compatibility. There shouldn’t be any obstacles, Marin said in an interview with Fareed Zakaria, journalist of the news channel CNN.
Marin also justified Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership by saying that after Russia’s attack in Ukraine in February, Finland could no longer trust its old relationship with Russia.
According to the Prime Minister, the most important thing for Finns is to make sure that Finland is secured, and that Russia would not cross the border of a NATO member state.
Marin emphasized several times that the West’s support for Ukraine must continue to be strong in order for Russia to lose the war it started.
According to Marin, Russia is challenging the entire rules-based world order with the war it is waging, so continuing to support Ukraine is essential.
– We must say openly and loudly that Ukraine will be supported as long as necessary, Marin said at the panel.
According to Marin, it is the West’s responsibility to continue supporting Ukraine, but only Ukraine can decide on the start of possible peace negotiations.
To the question of whether the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war” or more broadly “Russia’s war” is going on in Ukraine, Marin answered that both.
According to Marin, ordinary Russians are fighting in Ukraine and many Russians are deliberately looking the other way as Russia’s brutal war continues.
However, Marin emphasized the authoritarianism of Putin’s regime and how tight civil society and freedom of speech have been pushed in Russia. For example, it is difficult to trust surveys conducted in Russia because of this, the Prime Minister estimates.
Towards the end of the interview, Zakaria said that Marin does not like the fact that interviews focus on her young age and gender.
– And we don’t have to! We don’t need to focus on that, Marin interrupted with a laugh and received short applause from the audience.
However, Marin answered that gender equality has been an important issue in Finland for a long time.
According to Marin, globally, it is important that the voices of representatives of different genders are given space, because the best decisions are made when everyone’s perspectives are heard.