Finland has indicated that it is not prepared to provide formal security guarantees to Ukraine, despite its intentions to join broader support mechanisms. This clarification reflects Helsinki's current stance amid ongoing discussions in Europe and with the United States regarding long-term support for Kyiv.
PM Orpo: Security guarantees and agreements are “very different matters”
According to Finnish public broadcaster Yle, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on Tuesday that Finland is not ready to offer security guarantees to Ukraine. Speaking at a press event in Espoo alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Orpo noted that Finland is instead preparing to participate in security agreements.
Journalists asked whether Finland had received details on the guarantees proposed by the United States and if they could resemble NATO's Article 5. Orpo replied that Helsinki had not seen any specific proposals and emphasized the distinction between security guarantees and broader security agreements. When the initial 28-point peace plan from Washington was leaked to the media, Finland was mentioned directly among potential security guarantors.
“We have not had any discussions on this matter. I do not understand why Finland was mentioned in this document. It is important to recognize that security guarantees are a serious commitment. We are not ready to provide security guarantees, but we can assist within the framework of security agreements. The difference between them is enormous,” Orpo stated.
He added that decisions regarding security guarantees will ultimately be made by leading European nations and the United States. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that European countries are preparing to support Ukraine's security through military training and arms supplies, warning that recent discussions about guarantees may be misleading. According to him, the strongest guarantee remains a robust Ukrainian army, and “we can help it stay strong.”
Stubbs warns: conditions for a “just peace” are unlikely to be met
Finnish President Alexander Stubb made a separate statement. In an interview with MTV Uutiset published on Wednesday, he said that the conditions for a “just peace” in Ukraine are unlikely to be fulfilled.
“The reality is that peace can be good, bad, or a compromise. And the reality is also that we Finns must prepare for the moment when peace comes, and that all the conditions for a just peace that we have discussed over the past four years are unlikely to be met,” Stubb remarked. He added that “today we are closer to peace than we were yesterday,” but the coming days and weeks will show whether negotiations yield results.
