The president of the Republic Alexander Stubb estimates that the US $60 billion aid package is very important for Ukraine.
– That’s why I appealed to the US Congress on CNN to approve the support package.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi has just estimated that if the package of the US Congress is not accepted, then Ukraine may lose the war.
– On the other hand, after meeting him, Zelenskyi was also optimistic about the fact that US support will eventually come.
Stubb estimates that support for Ukraine comes from many sources, and US support is by no means the only one. Stubb believes that everyone understands the necessity of support.
– Putin himself probably knows that his window of opportunity will close within a few months. Then his possibilities of action will be more limited than today.
The goal is NATO sub-staff
Stubb says that Finland is seeking from NATO to place the sub-staff of the ground forces in Finland. At the same time, Finland wants all the Nordic countries to be subordinate to NATO’s Norfolk headquarters.
According to Stubb, the lower staff pursued by Finland would be militarily justified.
– When American war materials are placed on Finnish soil, it strengthens Finland’s defense, Stubb assessed at a meeting of Finnish journalists in Brussels.
Stubb points out that no decisions have been made on the matter. Decisions can be expected in the coming weeks or months.
The final decision was made at the NATO summit in Washington in July.
Stubb also did not take a position on whether Mikkeli would be the location of the possible subordinate staff, as Iltalehti has assessed in its story.
Finland supports Rutte
Stubb said that Finland continues to support the former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte as the next Secretary General of NATO.
– A clear majority of NATO member countries are in favor of Rutte, Stubb points out.
Since at the same time there are many other important tasks in Europe, for example in the next EU Commission, these personal choices form their own package, where everything affects everything.
– There are small bends on the way, says Stubb.
A more dangerous world than before
During the day, Alexander Stubb met the Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.
– We live in an even more dangerous world. We can no longer take peace for granted, Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference.
Among other things, the vice-president of the European Commission Josep Borrell assessed yesterday that the expansion of the war in Europe is no longer an impossible idea.
– NATO is now even stronger, and I don’t see a particular threat to it right now, Stoltenberg said.
– A pessimist fears the worst and an optimist prepares that it won’t happen, Stubb pointed out.
“Finland is loyal and trustworthy”
Both Stubb and Stoltenberg assured that Ukraine’s support will continue in the future.
Ukraine was reminded that it needs ammunition, weapons and air defense.
– Ukraine cannot wait, Stoltenberg said.
Stubb now visited the NATO headquarters for the first time as President of Finland.
– Finland is a loyal, constructive and reliable member of NATO, Stubb assured.
A two day visit
Yesterday, Stubb met with the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croon and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice-President of the European Commission by Josep Borrell.
Earlier today, Stubb met with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
Tonight, President Stubb will give a speech at a discussion event at the Friends of Europe think tank.
The program of the visit also includes a meeting with the President of the European Council Charles Michelin and the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen’s story with.
News updated throughout 10.4. at 19:45 after President Stubb’s press conference.
Changed on 10.4. at 20:20 Mark Rutte is the former prime minister of the Netherlands, not of Belgium, as was previously written in the article.