Russia is confused with the “two steps forward, one backward” tactic

The president of the Republic Sauli Niinistö comments on the situation in Russia and Ukraine today on Sunday on the US news channel State of the Nationin the program (you switch to another service).

– What we have seen so far – and I am a little afraid it will continue – is that Russia pushes forward, then takes a step back and then takes two steps forward. We’ve been quite confused and it’s maybe a tactic, Niinistö said.

CNN anchor Dana Bash asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is an irrational leader with a large army or a rational leader with a strategy.

– It’s a difficult question for me too, Niinistö admitted.

– It is difficult to determine what the other person is actually deep inside. So far, he has acted in a way that is very difficult to predict, but it can also be intentional because it creates confusion around him and as I said, we are now a little confused.

Niinistö still did not take a position on the question of whether Putin has decided to attack Ukraine, as the US leadership has said in recent days.

Niinistö saw the agreement on the issue of Eastern Ukraine, a full-scale war or an escalation of tensions as the two steps forward, one backwards approach described above. He considered the latter most likely right now.

The presenter Bash reminded of Finland’s long land border with Russia. He asked whether Russia’s aggression in Ukraine made Finland fear that Finland might be next when Finland was not a member of NATO either.

Niinistö reminded that Finland is a stable democracy for more than a hundred years, a member of the EU and part of the West. Geography needs to be known, Niinistö said.

– We are not afraid at all, Niinistö told CNN.

– In fact, the situation on the Finnish border and in the entire Baltic Sea region is now very calm. We are not afraid that Russian tanks will suddenly cross the Finnish border.

Niinistö also answered the question whether the current crisis may change Finland’s attitude towards NATO membership. The President noted that there was a lot of discussion about the issue and that the discussion would continue, possibly even depending on the development of the situation in Ukraine.

– At the moment, I see no reason for dramatic, sudden changes. It needs to be thought through, Niinistö said.

– A lot depends on what happens in Ukraine and how Russia will behave after that. If Russia sees it as a great success story for them, it will make them more dangerous, Niinistö said.

Niinistö felt that the current situation is even colder than it was during the Cold War, as many of the ceasefire agreements between the United States and Russia during the Cold War have been revoked.

– This makes the situation much more vulnerable, Niinistö said.