The president of the Republic Sauli Niinistön according to the escalation of the war in Ukraine into a nuclear war is currently not in sight. In a story published by the New York Times yesterday, Niinistö estimated that the war in Ukraine could continue for a long time and take unexpected turns, even towards a nuclear war.
Niinistö, who traveled to the United States, commented on the matter to the Finnish media in New York. Niinistö participates with his spouse Jenni Haukion with for the high-level week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly from 18 to 21 September
Niinistö predicts an interesting meeting.
– There are tensions and efforts for a certain kind of reconstruction in the world, as has been seen with the Brics countries, which are made up of developing economies. It is particularly interesting to see how it might be reflected here.
At the end of August, the Brics countries, often considered challengers to the G7 group, held their most important meeting in years. At its summit, the group decided to invite Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates as new members of the Brics alliance.
The expansion of the Brics group has already raised concerns in the West.
According to Niinistö, the decisions made by the Brics countries also affect the situation in Ukraine.
– There are differences in the opinions of the countries in question regarding Ukraine, but there are also countries that actively support Russia or sit on the fence.
The war in Ukraine creates tensions between the countries
As expected, the main focus of the president’s press conference was on Ukraine.
The UN General Assembly is becoming tense because the president of Ukraine will also be participating Volodymyr Zelenskyi that the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In connection with the General Assembly, there will also be a UN Security Council meeting regarding Ukraine in New York, where Denmark will give a speech from the Nordic countries.
According to Niinistö, the Nordic countries have tried to perform together after Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Helsinki.
– It’s quite easy, because our positions are quite united in matters concerning Ukraine, Niinistö states.
According to Niinistö, everyone is waiting for the war to end and peace to come to Ukraine. Although the situation does not look very bright in that regard, Niinistö has suggested that the UN should start to find out in advance how peace could be guaranteed in Ukraine after the end of the war.
According to him, the opening of negotiations and finding a consensus on peacekeeping could also affect the actual peace negotiations.
– What if we get [eri tahot] to the same table to discuss peacekeeping in a slightly backward way. If it gets broad shoulders, would there be more consensus then to seek that peace?
Many of the questions from the press who attended the press conference were about Niinistö’s recent speeches about the risk of escalation and fear of a possible expansion of the war.
According to Niinistö, supporting Ukraine, the prolongation of the war, or the long-range missiles supplied by the United States alone do not increase the risk of war expansion. At the beginning of September, a Russian drone exploded in Romanian airspace, and according to the president, damage like this cannot happen indefinitely.
The president also emphasizes that the end of the war in Ukraine will not remove Russia from the world map. According to him, the view of many experts is that Russia will remain dangerous regardless of the outcome of the war. Then the question is whether we try to tolerate it, Niinistö states.
– If someone exists, it’s pretty hard not to tolerate it. We have to find the means to keep the bear in place.
Several one-on-one meetings
President Niinistö will give Finland’s national speech at the General Assembly on Wednesday, September 20.
In addition to the General Assembly discussion, the President’s program includes, among other things, a speech by the UN Secretary General by António Guterres hosted at the Sustainable Development Summit on Monday, as well as several bilateral meetings.
In New York, Niinistö is supposed to meet the president of Kazakhstan Kasym-Žomart TokaevPresident of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zaparov and the President of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong. In addition, Niinistö plans to repeat the conversations he had earlier this year with the president of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa with.
– I try to meet those whom I rarely meet in my everyday interactions, Niinistö states.
Niinistö does not intend to meet European leaders separately, although he says he intends to share his thoughts with the Swedish Prime Minister by Ulf Kristersson and the Prime Minister of Denmark by Mette Frederiksen with.
Outside the UN, the president aims to meet, among other things, an experienced US diplomat Henry Kissinger and a writer by Paul Auster.
The Finnish General Assembly delegation led by the President also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (collective) and Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio (ps.).