“Ukraine has been a hard piece to break down, and so would Finland,” says General Timo Kivinen.
According to Kivinen, Finland has been preparing for the kind of war that Russia is currently waging in Ukraine for decades.
Finland is said to have accumulated significant weapons, but according to General Kivinen, the most important factor is the motivation of the Finns in the fight.
– The most important line of defense runs between the ears, as the war in Ukraine is currently showing, Kivinen says in an interview with the news agency.
In Reuters’ case, Finland also emphasized that it had maintained a high level of military readiness after the Second World War.
– We have systematically developed our military defense for just such warfare, which is now being fought there (in Ukraine), Kivinen tells Reuters.
The general is refining the war in Ukraine with heavy firepower and with the help of armored and air forces.
– Ukraine has been a hard piece to bite (for Russia), and so would Finland, he says.
Finland still bears the benefits of NATO membership, the main responsibility for defense
Finland, which has previously remained relatively non-aligned militarily, has applied for membership in NATO after the war in Ukraine.
Sweden’s western neighbor, Sweden, also applied for NATO. The countries are in talks with Turkey, which has opposed their applications for membership.
In an interview with Reuters, Kivinen welcomed Finland’s decision to apply for NATO membership.
According to him, membership in the military alliance could help Finland improve its early warning capacity when the country becomes part of NATO’s common airspace.
According to the commander, Finland could also benefit from the deterrent effect of the military alliance.
– Finland will still have the main responsibility for Finland’s defense, Kivinen adds.