At the ambassadorial days, straightforward language about Russia was used. The government denied the diplomats with the message that there is no going back to the way things were. The veteran diplomat estimated that there was confusion in the hall.
– The Cossack takes what is loosely attached.
The president of the Republic Sauli Niinistö repeated the familiar folk wisdom when speaking to the heads of Finnish missions at the ambassadorial days in Helsinki.
Niinistö pointed out that the idea concerns both matter and freedom of action. This time, the president had in mind Russia’s demand at the end of last year that Finland and Sweden should not apply to become members of the defense alliance NATO. NATO should not expand.
Russia started an illegal war of aggression in Ukraine, Finland drew conclusions and expressed its desire to apply for NATO membership.
– We fixed that issue, President Niinistö formulated.
There’s no going back
Both President Niinistön and the Prime Minister Sanna Marini today’s speeches to the ambassadors were very straightforward statements about the state of affairs in Finland’s relationship with Russia.
– After the war, there is no going back to the way things were before, Prime Minister Marin said.
Both the prime minister and the president stressed to the diplomats that we are in the middle of a huge change. Russia has broken commitments, it has betrayed trust.
President Niinistö estimates that “there is not much left” of Finland’s previous relationship with Russia and “now is not the time to build connections”.
– All addictions that can be used against us must be taken into account. Nothing should be loosely attached, President Niinistö said.
Russia remains, its fate open
Former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pertti Torstila said that he paid attention to the fact that the state leadership’s message to the diplomats explicitly outlines the change in the world and the enormous consequences of the war in Ukraine.
– In the hall, you could feel uncertainty and confusion about where this all leads to, long-time diplomat Pertti Torstila said in an interview with .
He remembers very well the discussions at the ambassadorial meetings since 1972.
– In the 1970s, Finland fought for its neutrality. At the same time, we tried to explain Finnishness as best we could.
To the diplomat’s ears, it is unheard of that now Russia is said to have betrayed trust and that the relationship will not return to the way it was before.
– This kind of language has never had to be used in Russia before.
Along the way there were, of course, the war in Georgia and the annexation of Crimea. These led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
– The soft West just didn’t want to believe that this would happen.
Pertti Torstila reminds us that Russia will not disappear from our neighborhood. It may change shape. We do not know what the fate of Russia will be.
That is why former State Secretary Torstila is calling for Finland’s own Russia policy. He points out – like President Niinistö – that Finland has special know-how in relation to Russia and it must be utilized.
– We will eventually have to come to an agreement with our neighbor to the east.
The return of “non-commitment”.
Former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pertti Torstila estimates that the international playing field is now taking shape in a completely new way. This would seem to emphasize the importance of non-aligned countries. They strive to get back on the playing field.
During the Cold War, non-aligned, non-aligned and non-aligned countries stood between the ideological opposition of East and West.
Russia follows with satisfaction the resurgent movement of non-aligned countries and uses it in its foreign policy. Torstila reminds that in the UN, 40 percent condemned the Russian attack, but 60 percent voted against it.
He estimates that the group that could support the authoritarian style that the other half of the world seems to be thinking about a lot is now being rebuilt. It attracts many countries.
– We are in between, we sit on the fence and look to both sides.
According to Torstila, India is a very clear example of such a country.
– And China has not expressed a clear position on this either.
Did you have any thoughts? You can discuss the topic until 23:00 on 24.8.