According to Elina Valtonen, the EU and Finland should intervene even more strictly in the evasion of economic sanctions against Russia through third countries.
Jani Parkkari,
Maxim Fedorov
KIEV Foreign minister Elina Valtonen (co.) denies that he is worried about the slow erosion of the support shown by the Western powers to Ukraine.
– The EU’s support for Ukraine is very strong, Valtonen commented to on Monday at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Kyiv.
It is the first time that the foreign ministers of all 27 member states meet outside the Union.
– The meeting has a great symbolic meaning, Valtonen estimates.
Concerns about waning Western support came to the fore over the weekend when Slovakia announced it would end military aid to Ukraine and in the United States the federal budget did not include a president Joe Biden demanded Ukraine aid.
Valtonen considers these to be individual matters within the countries.
– I am very optimistic about the United States. However, we are heading towards an election year there, so the situation is sensitive in that regard.
Sanctions evasion should be tackled
According to Foreign Minister Valtonen, compliance with economic sanctions against Russia should be monitored even more strictly in Finland and the EU.
Russia is able to circumvent sanctions to some extent by trading through countries that are not involved in the sanctions front.
In Valtonen’s opinion, trade passing through such “third countries” should be tackled.
– When it has been noticed that goods and technology go through third countries, which can be used, for example, in the manufacture of weapons, then these should be eradicated.
In recent months, cases have come to light in Finland and abroad in which companies have exported products or components prohibited by the sanctions to Russia.
– It should be obvious to every company that if they participate in the evasion of sanctions, they commit a crime, Valtonen says.