Finland’s president-elect on Sunday called on European countries to continue supporting Ukraine economically and militarily, warning that failure to do so could threaten the country’s existence.
“If the West had failed to support Ukraine, Ukraine would no longer exist,” Alexander Stubbe told Germany’s Munich Security Conference, according to Finnish state television (YLE).
“The only thing that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin understands is power. Whatever weakness you show, whatever soft elements you show, Putin will attack,” he added.
Stubb stressed that Russia must take responsibility for the war in Ukraine and the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony on Friday, but it is difficult to fulfill responsibility at the same time. admitted, Ale said. report.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the accusations against Russia were “confessions”, reminding Western leaders that no forensic examination had yet been carried out.
Stubb, who has previously served as Finland’s prime minister and finance minister, is pro-European and a strong supporter of Ukraine, will take office in March as the successor to incumbent Sauli Niinisto, who is known for maintaining close ties with Russia. .
Last Sunday’s high-stakes Finnish presidential election was widely seen as the most important in history, following Finland’s entry into NATO last April and the Nordic countries’ strong stance against Russia.
The Nordic countries’ membership in NATO has drawn military threats from the Kremlin, with Putin accusing the West of “dragging” Finland into the military alliance and creating a rift between Moscow and Helsinki.
In December, Finland closed its border with Russia, and Finnish authorities accused Russia of aiding and abetting illegal immigration into Northern Europe in a “hybrid attack”, a charge Russia denies.
The Munich Security Conference was Stubb’s first public statement since winning the presidential election.